Paul Kehoe (Wexford, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

Apologies have been received from Deputies Conway Walsh and Ó Laoghaire, who are being substituted by Deputies Tully and Ó Murchú, respectively. I remind members and officials to ensure their mobile phones are switched off for the duration of this meeting as they interfere with the broadcasting equipment, even though members and officials are participating remotely. The meeting has been convened to consider the Supplementary Estimates for Vote 26, education and skills, and Vote 45, further and higher education, research, innovation and science, which were referred to this committee by Dáil Éireann. I remind members of the constitutional requirement that they must be physically present within the confines of Leinster House to participate in public meetings. I will not permit a member to participate where they are not adhering to this constitutional requirement. Any member who attempts to participate from outside the precincts will be asked to leave the meeting.

I welcome the Minister for Education, Deputy Foley, the Minister of State at the Department of Education with responsibility for special education and inclusion, Deputy Madigan, and their officials. I thank them for the briefing documents they have provided for the meeting. We will spend approximately one hour and a half with the Minister and after that we will spend approximately 30 minutes with the Minister of State at the Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science, Deputy Niall Collins. I ask the Minister to make her opening statement.