Fiona O'Loughlin (Kildare South, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I have a few questions and then I will go back to the witnesses. Following the thread Senator Kelleher spoke of regarding disadvantage and how it is defined, I have had many arguments with the Department of Education and Skills, even in respect of the DEIS scheme. I do not understand why some schools were excluded from that scheme. The idea of inclusive education also possibly needs to be redefined. Is it appropriate that a review around that would be requested? I am also interested in knowing if any of the civil society groups that are working with the disadvantaged are involved in consultation on education policy and the gaps they would identity?

I remind all the stakeholders that if they have any further thoughts or comments on foot of issues that were raised at the meeting, we would be delighted to receive details of them in writing. We will ensure that all members, including non-members of the committee such as Senator Kelleher, get those.

If there was one intervention the Government could undertake to remove barriers to education for the vulnerable, what would it be? Will Mr. Dolan indicate the socioeconomic groups which, in his estimation, continue to be under-represented in participation in education. How might the Department address that under-representation?

Some of the submissions recommend that the exclusion of vulnerable groups and indirect discriminations should be assessed in a whole-school evaluation and in schools' appraisals in terms of a new equality and social inclusion index and that this could be a key recommendation for overcoming disadvantage. I would certainly agree with that. I would be interested to hear the witnesses' comments on that matter and on the way in which such an index would improve educational outcomes for vulnerable groups.

I will call the stakeholders in the order in which they indicate, beginning with Professor Lynch.