Ms Fiona Longmuir:

At the moment, I would say it is a more informal network. It is businesses that we have engaged with in various areas of our work which are willing to speak to us on a number of issues. It is definitely a more informal network at the moment. If it was to become something more formal, I think we would require some resources. We are quite a small team in Ireland. The Deputy has touched on something really interesting, which is that so much good work is happening and so many businesses are engaging with their local schools, sending kids out for work experience or sending people into schools in the same way that so many organisations are doing great work on STEM inclusion.

It is quite a disjointed sector at the moment. It is a busy environment. It can be difficult for schools, for example, to know what is available to them. There is potentially a real role for Government in making it clear where a school can go if it wants to engage in this kind of project or needs support in this area. The problem is not that these organisations are not there. People are doing fantastic work but schools do not know where to find them.