Ms ?mer Deane:

I thank the Deputies. There are a few things there. Deputy Feighan and Senator Currie both referred to the greenway project, and also the fact that we have the NSMC back. Senator Currie is absolutely right. We are in a new context now where we can again have that official-level contact between Ministers and their Northern counterparts. We hope that the NSMC will start meeting again from next month, and that will make a real difference. As I said in my presentation, a lot of the work that is being carried out by the shared island initiative is picking up on commitments made previously, whether that was co-operation between the two administrations or, in the case of the greenway, it goes back to the New Decade, New Approach agreement and commitments there.

The greenway very much continues to be a priority because it is a commitment we are hoping, through the shared island fund, to be able to bring to the next phase. On the greenway project itself, the objective is to ultimately link it completely from west to east, and to look at the different parts that are in place. That work is continuing, and as I understand it the Department is led here by the Department of Transport and by the Department for Infrastructure in Northern Ireland. The next meeting on that is going to take place later this month, so that is certainly on our radar, and like I said, fits in with those other priorities that have come through NDNA.

On educational underattainment, this is an area that goes back to the NSMC. It was an area that was identified through the council as a priority for both administrations. It is really great to be able to pick up on that work. What will happen now is the two Ministers will work to develop a pilot project on how best they feel they can assist in creating a programme around educational underattainment. As we know, the Northern Ireland report, A Fair Start, and our own research through the fund show that there is a significant difference in educational attainment between the two jurisdictions. That is something that we want to look at and take forward. There are other elements to that as well. There will be an online resource for teachers to share their experience on best practice in the classroom in dealing with underattainment. A few of the programmes, such as T-REX, ESB Science Blast and those who are more familiar with it, will all be part of that.

On the gambling issue, I am happy to take that away and to think about how we might talk to Foróige to see what it is doing, and where we can link in with it. I am happy for the Senator to put it in touch with us.