Ms Karen Murtagh:

When the STEM education policy statement was created, it was done by the Department of Education, but we have worked with the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth on the new implementation plan this year, to have a greater focus on the early years side. We are also building the relationship with the Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science, because the skills learners develop within STEM are relevant for when they go into higher education, further education or the world of work. It is about the joined-up thinking, because much of the time on the ground, there is considerable confusion about who is doing what. There are competing things going on. Thus, it is about having more joined-up thinking. As Ms O'Connor mentioned earlier, we are working along with business and industry throughout the development of the policy statement and the implementation plan. It is about everybody working together. We are especially focused in our work with the Departments of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth, and Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science.