Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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My Department, together with the Department of Education Northern Ireland, has responsibility for the development of co-operation and common action in the field of education between both parts of the island of Ireland, in the context of the Good Friday Agreement. My Department is required to take forward this co-operation through the North/South Ministerial Council (NSMC) and to develop, within that framework, common policies in the designated areas of special education needs, educational underachievement, teacher mobility and school, youth and teacher exchanges.

The re-establishment of the NI Assembly structures including the North South Ministerial Council will present opportunities to enrich and develop cooperative activities with Northern Ireland in the education and youth sector.