Results 3,781-3,800 of 5,828 for speaker:Fiona O'Loughlin

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: Education Inequality and Disadvantage: Discussion (6 Feb 2018)

Fiona O'Loughlin: I thank Dr. O'Sullivan. I can imagine that there will lots of questions coming down the line. I invite Dr. Bissett to make his opening statement.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: Education Inequality and Disadvantage: Discussion (6 Feb 2018)

Fiona O'Loughlin: We are all very interested in this subject and appreciate having received the briefing material before the meeting.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: Education Inequality and Disadvantage: Discussion (6 Feb 2018)

Fiona O'Loughlin: That is perfect. I thank Ms Quinn. Elizabeth Waters is chief executive of An Cosán.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: Education Inequality and Disadvantage: Discussion (6 Feb 2018)

Fiona O'Loughlin: I thank Ms Waters. Deirdre Malone is the executive director of the Irish Penal Reform Trust.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: Education Inequality and Disadvantage: Discussion (6 Feb 2018)

Fiona O'Loughlin: I thank Ms Malone. The passion of all our guests is absolutely evident. We could genuinely sit around here for hours listening to their stories and experiences. We will now hear from the representatives from the Departments. Ms McGovern, principal officer at the Department of Children and Youth Affairs, might start.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: Education Inequality and Disadvantage: Discussion (6 Feb 2018)

Fiona O'Loughlin: I thank Ms McGovern. The final stakeholder is Ms O'Brien, principal officer with the social inclusion unit in the Department of Education and Skills.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: Education Inequality and Disadvantage: Discussion (6 Feb 2018)

Fiona O'Loughlin: I thank Ms O'Brien. Before turning to members, I wish to say that youth organisations were invited to attend and young persons could have been the ones to deliver their presentations. The invitation was declined. Comhairle na nÓg has presented to us previously, as has the secondary schools organisation, in which case a secondary school student presented. The WorldSkills group also...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: Education Inequality and Disadvantage: Discussion (6 Feb 2018)

Fiona O'Loughlin: I will call Deputy Thomas Byrne after which we will have responses. I will then call Deputies Jan O'Sullivan and McLoughlin, and Senator Byrne.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: Education Inequality and Disadvantage: Discussion (6 Feb 2018)

Fiona O'Loughlin: I thank Ms Waters. Does anyone wish to respond?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: Education Inequality and Disadvantage: Discussion (6 Feb 2018)

Fiona O'Loughlin: We know we are not going to change the world but we would certainly hope-----

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: Education Inequality and Disadvantage: Discussion (6 Feb 2018)

Fiona O'Loughlin: -----that working together we are going to make strong recommendations to the Minister.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: Education Inequality and Disadvantage: Discussion (6 Feb 2018)

Fiona O'Loughlin: Deputy McLoughlin is next.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: Education Inequality and Disadvantage: Discussion (6 Feb 2018)

Fiona O'Loughlin: I would like to put a few questions to the witnesses before asking them to respond. I agree with much of what has been said by my colleagues in regard to DEIS. Having worked in a DEIS school as a primary school teacher I know that there is no school that does not need resources. Often it does not matter in what way those resources come about. Schools that are in DEIS have more resources...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: Education Inequality and Disadvantage: Discussion (6 Feb 2018)

Fiona O'Loughlin: We actually had a presentation from them specifically on that project.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: Education Inequality and Disadvantage: Discussion (6 Feb 2018)

Fiona O'Loughlin: Is this in terms of the experience of school?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: Education Inequality and Disadvantage: Discussion (6 Feb 2018)

Fiona O'Loughlin: Many children might not know they are in a DEIS school.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: Education Inequality and Disadvantage: Discussion (6 Feb 2018)

Fiona O'Loughlin: Dr. O'Sullivan should not say that.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: Education Inequality and Disadvantage: Discussion (6 Feb 2018)

Fiona O'Loughlin: On that point, about three weeks ago, there was a very good article in The Irish Timesabout Ms Domini Kemp and the entrepreneurial education she has carried out in prisons. It was fascinating, and made for excellent reading. We have asked Mr. Ian D'Arcy to check the invitation that was sent to the Department of Children and Youth Affairs. In inviting the Department, we mentioned issues...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Household Debt Statistics (6 Feb 2018)

Fiona O'Loughlin: 128. To ask the Minister for Finance if figures are available that measure the level of credit card debt to household income; if so, the detail of same in each of the years 2011 to 2017, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5319/18]

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Public Sector Pensions (6 Feb 2018)

Fiona O'Loughlin: 158. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the position regarding the provision of pension entitlements to employees such as community employment personnel that have their entire salary provided by the State; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5320/18]