Joanna Tuffy (Dublin Mid West, Labour)
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We are discussing the Supplementary Estimates for Vote 26 - Education and Skills, for an amount of €103 million. Under Standing Order 161 the discussion must be confined to the items contained in the Supplementary Estimate and no discussion may be raised on the original Estimates, save in so far as it may be necessary to explain or illustrate the particular items under discussion.

Members will have an opportunity to review the additional allocations now being sought on an item-by-item basis, to focus on why they are being sought and to review the targets for the relevant items, the resources already made available for these items and the outputs and impacts of the activities concerned. Members have been circulated with the Department's brief and a brief prepared by the committee secretariat, which are intended to assist them in their consideration of each item.

I welcome the Minister for Education and Skills, Deputy O'Sullivan, and her officials and now invite her to make her opening statement.