Results 3,321-3,340 of 5,756 for speaker:Fiona O'Loughlin
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: Barriers to Education Facing Vulnerable Groups: Discussion (29 May 2018)
Fiona O'Loughlin: I thank Ms Heelan. This morning a joint meeting of the Joint Committee on Education and Skills, Joint Committee on Health and Joint Committee on Employment Affairs and Social Protection took place. We discussed the barriers to education and employment opportunities for people with disabilities. That was the second of three or four meetings that we intend to hold on the subject. We hope...
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: Barriers to Education Facing Vulnerable Groups: Discussion (29 May 2018)
Fiona O'Loughlin: I thank Mr. Nevin for his presentation. I must say that 1963 was 55 years ago.
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: Barriers to Education Facing Vulnerable Groups: Discussion (29 May 2018)
Fiona O'Loughlin: It is good that we have moved on significantly from that time, particularly in terms of the recognition of the Traveller community as an ethnic group last year. I thank Mr. Nevin for his practical suggestions, particularly his call for resource teachers to be reinstated. I was a primary schoolteacher and, therefore, I know that resource teaching worked. It was wrong to remove resource...
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: Barriers to Education Facing Vulnerable Groups: Discussion (29 May 2018)
Fiona O'Loughlin: We all recognise that there are many lone parent families within our system for all the different reasons outlined. I thank Ms Maher for her recommendations.
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: Barriers to Education Facing Vulnerable Groups: Discussion (29 May 2018)
Fiona O'Loughlin: The Eyre Powell direct provision centre is located beside my constituency office in Newbridge and, therefore, I regularly have the opportunity to chat to those living there. I know how strongly education is valued and needed. Apart from the difficulties in accessing third level education, in one meeting I had with them last year a group of young men mentioned that they had undertaken a...
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: Barriers to Education Facing Vulnerable Groups: Discussion (29 May 2018)
Fiona O'Loughlin: I thank Ms Randall for her presentation, which highlights the clear link between educational inequality and economic inequality. I call Professor Kathleen Lynch.
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: Barriers to Education Facing Vulnerable Groups: Discussion (29 May 2018)
Fiona O'Loughlin: That is fine. On that note, I had asked that someone would substitute for me today when a vote is called in the Dáil but that is not allowed, apparently. I will have to slip out to vote. Will Senator Ruane take the Chair in my absence?
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: Barriers to Education Facing Vulnerable Groups: Discussion (29 May 2018)
Fiona O'Loughlin: At what time?
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: Barriers to Education Facing Vulnerable Groups: Discussion (29 May 2018)
Fiona O'Loughlin: I ask Senator Byrne to see if the vote can be delayed.
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: Barriers to Education Facing Vulnerable Groups: Discussion (29 May 2018)
Fiona O'Loughlin: I thank the Senator. I apologise to Professor Lynch and invite her to make her presentation.
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: Barriers to Education Facing Vulnerable Groups: Discussion (29 May 2018)
Fiona O'Loughlin: I ask Professor Lynch to conclude.
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: Barriers to Education Facing Vulnerable Groups: Discussion (29 May 2018)
Fiona O'Loughlin: Professor Lynch made the case well about the need for national data. Competition for advantage is what it is about. We talk about the idea of equal opportunity to access education but it is questionable after listening to her statement. I invite Mr. Shane Rooney to make his statement.
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: Barriers to Education Facing Vulnerable Groups: Discussion (29 May 2018)
Fiona O'Loughlin: I thank Mr. Rooney. I know from my experience of dealing with his counterparts in Newbridge, County Kildare, that he provides an excellent and valuable service when people can access it. Unfortunately, not many people are aware that it is available. Part of our job is to let people know it is there. Deputy Naughton will take the Chair while I go to cast my vote, but I will be back...
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: Barriers to Education Facing Vulnerable Groups: Discussion (29 May 2018)
Fiona O'Loughlin: Has Deputy Funchion any questions?
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: Barriers to Education Facing Vulnerable Groups: Discussion (29 May 2018)
Fiona O'Loughlin: 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...
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: Barriers to Education Facing Vulnerable Groups: Discussion (29 May 2018)
Fiona O'Loughlin: That is something we are looking at as a committee.
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: Barriers to Education Facing Vulnerable Groups: Discussion (29 May 2018)
Fiona O'Loughlin: Thank you. I call Mr. Dolan.
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: Barriers to Education Facing Vulnerable Groups: Discussion (29 May 2018)
Fiona O'Loughlin: I asked about the possibility of looking at the exclusion of vulnerable groups and indirect discrimination and how that would be assessed in a whole school evaluation. This was a direct question for Mr. Dolan. What socio-economic groups continue to be under-represented, in the opinion of the Department, and how might this be addressed?
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: Barriers to Education Facing Vulnerable Groups: Discussion (29 May 2018)
Fiona O'Loughlin: I appreciate that and thank Mr. Dolan. I will give the final word to Professor Lynch.
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: Barriers to Education Facing Vulnerable Groups: Discussion (29 May 2018)
Fiona O'Loughlin: Thank you, Professor Lynch.