Dr. Seamus McGuinness:

We looked at that within our study, and the level of North-South co-operation within the education realm is very low to non-existent. Where it does exist, it is voluntary. There are two exceptions to that, that is, the SCoTENS project and the work that is done by the all-island inspectorate. There is some integration that happens within the higher education sector, but, again, it is limited and ad hoc. The obvious things from our research that would need to happen is that there needs to be a reform and much more investment within the further education system in the North. The issue of early school leaving needs to be addressed. The issue of social disadvantage in education needs to be addressed. As regards the starting point, where would you look to the Republic in that?

Not having academic selection is one area and having a programme such as delivering equality of opportunity in schools, DEIS, is a second.