Cathal Crowe (Clare, Fianna Fail)

I am up next in the speaking roster. I thank the Minister of State and all his officials. I hope it is okay to mention one. Ms Cliodhna O'Neill has been here already today for several hours. She is really doing the hard graft today. I appreciate all of her support to the committee earlier. Indeed, all of the Minister of State's officials have been excellent. I acknowledge that at the outset and thank them in front of the Minister of State. It is important that people be acknowledged for all that they are doing. We appreciate that.

I thank the Minister of State for what he is doing as well. He once sat in this chair. He is doing a superb job. I see, on his Instagram and Facebook, he is popping up all over the country. I say, "Well done", and thank him for all he is doing. The Minister of State is giving time to schools. I have seen him go in and sit down with children and staff and engage with people.

I have a few questions I would like to put.

When the committee was establishing itself, we found it easy to devise a work programme for education. You could meet twice a week in education. We had to pinch ourselves a few times and tell ourselves we were also the committee on youth. I was looking at the pie chart. I used to love looking at those when I was teaching. There is a small slice for youth. Will the Minister of State give us any commentary on that? We are cognisant that we need to do more to spotlight youth. Is it a poor relation here or in the Department? Where does it fit overall budget-wise?