Marc Ó Cathasaigh (Waterford, Green Party) | Oireachtas source

Apologies have been received from the Cathaoirleach, Deputy Paul Kehoe. I remind members and officials to please ensure mobile phones are switched off for the duration of the meeting as they interfere with broadcasting equipment, even when on silent mode. This meeting has been convened to consider the Supplementary Estimates for Vote 26, education, which has been referred to this committee by Dáil Éireann.

I welcome the Minister for Education, Deputy Norma Foley, and her officials and thank them for the briefing document provided ahead of the meeting. Given the time constraints, members will each have a five-minute slot to ask general questions on the Vote. I ask the Minister to make her opening statement.