Thomas Byrne (Meath East, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I ask the Minister his plans to ensure equality of access for students of all socioeconomic backgrounds in this country and if he will make a statement on the matter. Over the past few months, Fianna Fáil, in the context of the Oireachtas education committee, has put forward a series of proposals to address educational disadvantage. The matters I have highlighted include the issue of reduced hours affecting poorer children, Traveller children and children with special needs. Time and again, socioeconomic background is cropping up as a reason for reduced access to education and we need to sort this out and ensure that the equality that is deserved is achieved for everybody.

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