Dr. Jacqueline Fallon:

Perhaps I could pick up on a point made by Senator Warfield. He mentioned the importance of listening to young people and consultation. It would be important, given that we are all here trying to do ensure we do our best for our children and young people, to let the members know that we are very focused on consultation with children. For example, we are currently undertaking a consultation with babies, toddlers and young children on the updating of the early childhood curriculum framework. That is being carried out by a consortium across a number of academic institutions. We have just completed a consultation with primary school children to contribute to the finalisation of the primary curriculum framework. We are also sponsoring a study that is being carried out by the school of education in UCD, the Children's School Lives study. That is also feeding into the work we are doing. Mr. Slattery can also speak to the fact that we are sponsoring a longitudinal study on junior cycle implementation, which very much listens to and includes the voices of the young people who are actually experiencing all of the issues the committee has been discussing. Perhaps Mr. Slattery wants to speak to that.