Lynn Ruane (Independent) | Oireachtas source

I will apologise to everyone, as I am unwell. If a fit of coughing starts, just ignore me.

I thank the witnesses for their presentations. This is a topic close to my heart. I will start with a criticism, though. With all due respect and while I am sorry to shoot the messenger, the contribution from the Department of Children and Youth Affairs, a body that represents some of the most vulnerable families in terms of their outcomes in life and their lack of educational attainment, referred to Dáil na nÓg, but that group is not representative of what we were asking about in our questions. We could have heard something valuable from the Department about the kids whom it represents through Tusla and so on. Five direct questions were asked about the outcome of educational disadvantage for the individual, and Dáil na nÓg discussing equality issues within the school setting does not address them. There might be some crossover at stages, but those are two different issues. I just wish to note my disappointment with the quality of what was presented on this topic.

The Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection is another Department that sees early school leavers also walk through its doors in their droves to sign up for jobseeker's allowance and SOLAS courses. It refused to make a submission as it felt that the Department of Children and Youth Affairs would adequately cover the concerns.

I have about four questions. Ms Malone gave a very insightful submission which everyone should read. In considering education for prisoners, we think of education while in the prison system, which is like putting a plaster on it. Obviously early intervention is key. In the absence of early intervention and when people end in the prison system, does Ms Malone see a role for the education system within prisons to lead directly into universities or community education? I ask her to give more detail about the problem of the spent convictions and being able to progress further.

I have a simple question for Dr. O'Sullivan. Why are the current systems not working?

I have a question for Dr. Bissett. Can the Irish education system address the inequalities that exist in Irish education and Irish society in general?

I believe Ms Waters touched on the issue of adult education. We look to early intervention, which obviously is the best-case scenario, but there is that ripple effect of education. I was on the pilot of the lone parents two-year programme all those years ago. I notice that it has recently been cut and will no longer exist. That is an amazing programme that works with lone parents, provides child care and has benefitted people like me. I ask Ms Waters to comment on that and what it means for her organisation.

I have one simple question for Foróige on the Education (Welfare) Act. Ms Quinn suggested moving it beyond the age of 16. What supports need to be in place? Women are already punished. They already lose their child benefit if their child leaves school. That may be through no fault of the parent who might be working very hard to get their child to school. Rather than further punishing parents by extending that beyond the age of 16, what supports should we introduce so that the children can positively and actively engage in education? Should we redefine what education means? If they are not necessarily in mainstream schools, should we be looking at changing the definition of education in the Education (Welfare) Act to include Youthreach, community education and apprenticeships? I ask for Ms Quinn's suggestions on that because I know it was a recommendation.