Mr. David Ruddy:

On the issue of DEIS schools and school meals, I am principal of a DEIS school and school attendance has increased from 87% to 95% over a ten year period. As a result, our attainment in literacy and numeracy has shot up. This is excellent news.

Deputies Ó Snodaigh and McConalogue asked what Department is responsible for this. My colleague has been shrewd in regard to commenting on that, but I will go for broke on the issue. With all due respect to my friends, perhaps former friends, in the Department of Social Protection, I think the Department of Children and Youth Affairs is very much at the core of this, because it is in charge of school attendance, enforcement and attendance strategies. It also deals with school completion. We are not fussy about who is responsible, but the direct question was asked and my response is that it should be the Department of Children and Youth Affairs, if we had to pick a Department.