Joe O'Reilly (Fine Gael)

That is quite good. The question arises about the other 24%, of course, but it is still positive. It is critical. I am a teacher by background. I have taught Travellers as well. Speaking as a teacher, and as all the best psychological research shows and as the witness are well aware, early intervention is critical. That is good, but there is the question of the 24%. I know it is the Department of children and we should probably redirect that question. Perhaps the secretariat could get that question of the 24% explored in the relevant area.

Moving on, I will say something completely irrelevant to the questions now. My colleague, Senator Maria Byrne, the Leas-Chathaoirleach of the Seanad, wanted me to publicly record her apology. She has been missing meetings for reasons that those of us who are anoraks know. She is caught with a post-election dispute. She is missing the meetings but she wants no misunderstanding around her missing the meetings.

Coming to the second question, I lived through much of this. There is huge progress in participation levels in primary. They transition to secondary and it is brilliant right up to the junior certificate. The witnesses have gone through the figures and I will not take them back through those. What are their top three strategies to get over this hump, for want of a better English word, and get people to do the leaving certificate? Specifically, I ask them to hone in on transition year. It would be exciting if there was good Traveller participation in transition year as a prelude to the leaving certificate. Are the witnesses' organisations resourced enough in their top three strategies? If not, do we have any role in getting it? Are they specially resourced to do the three things? Where are we at?