Mr. Barry Peak:

With regards to reach, it is important to differentiate between quantitative reach and the types of schools we are reaching into. We do very well numerically, with 220 schools around the country and approximately 14,000 young people each year. That is great. However, we are really passionate about making sure that all young people have the opportunity to benefit from social innovation education. We therefore work actively with Delivering Equality of Opportunity In Schools, DEIS, schools. We work with Youthreach centres. We are increasing our reach into primary schools. This is important to us, because we think that there is real value in social innovation education. The projects that the kids are doing are incredible, in terms of their outcomes, the impact on the community and the difference they are making in social justice. However, it is also having an impact on them as well, given the skills they are learning in the areas of creativity, critical thinking, innovation and resilience.

We think all young people could benefit from those sort of skills.

Not unlike some of the committee members, I was a teacher for many years. It seems to me that critical thinking and creativity was at the back of the book for the good kids, but we think all kids ought to have exposure to that to get the learning from it. It is very important to us that our reach is increased into DEIS schools and Youthreach centres. We are currently working with the City of Dublin Education and Training Board, ETB, on a Quality and Qualifications Ireland, QQI, level 4 module, which will enable us to go into community training centres and other institutions where we believe young people can benefit from social innovation education. They can benefit from the projects and the communities they live in can benefit from them.