Brian Leddin (Limerick City, Green Party) | Oireachtas source

I agree with the Minister that we are all delighted with the new cohort and I very much welcome his answer. The very best form of policy is evidence-based. We can see that with the Growing Up in Ireland longitudinal study, which kicked off about 15 or 16 years ago, how important it has been in developing policy and in the operational and funding decisions by the Minister and his predecessors. Governments can often be accused of making policy on a whim. When one has data and the evidence such as in the Growing Up in Ireland study, that is not the case.

I want to pick up on two points. It seems appropriate that the responsibility would transfer to the CSO from the Economic and Social Research Institute, ESRI, and to his Department also. Can the Minister elaborate on that, please, so we can learn more about the transfer? Can he also elaborate on the costs of the new cohort and the costs also of the longitudinal study in itself?

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