Results 141-160 of 1,013 for speaker:Colette Kelleher
- Joint Oireachtas Committee On Key Issues Affecting The Traveller Community: Traveller Education: Discussion (Resumed) (26 Nov 2019)
Colette Kelleher: I welcome members of the committee, and viewers who may be watching our proceedings on Oireachtas TV, to the meeting, the purpose of which is to continue the committee's deliberations on the topic of education and how it impacts on the Traveller community. This is our third session. The committee has heard from Ms Catherine Joyce of the Blanchardstown Traveller Development Group, the...
- Joint Oireachtas Committee On Key Issues Affecting The Traveller Community: Traveller Education: Discussion (Resumed) (26 Nov 2019)
Colette Kelleher: I thank Dr. O'Doherty for her presentation and call on Deputy O'Sullivan. I know she has had a tough time getting here this morning. If she is ready, we would be interested to hear from her. She and I are co-chairs of the Oireachtas group on Travellers.
- Joint Oireachtas Committee On Key Issues Affecting The Traveller Community: Traveller Education: Discussion (Resumed) (26 Nov 2019)
Colette Kelleher: I thank Deputy O'Sullivan. I now call on Mr. Patrick McDonagh, Traveller and PhD student in medieval history, to make his presentation.
- Joint Oireachtas Committee On Key Issues Affecting The Traveller Community: Traveller Education: Discussion (Resumed) (26 Nov 2019)
Colette Kelleher: I thank Mr. McDonagh. I hope everyone had a chance to read his very succinct and practical submission. It would be helpful to tease it out. I now open the debate up to my fellow committee members.
- Joint Oireachtas Committee On Key Issues Affecting The Traveller Community: Traveller Education: Discussion (Resumed) (26 Nov 2019)
Colette Kelleher: Who would like to go first?
- Joint Oireachtas Committee On Key Issues Affecting The Traveller Community: Traveller Education: Discussion (Resumed) (26 Nov 2019)
Colette Kelleher: I strongly suggest that we circulate that interim report. The Minister for Education and Skills will come before the committee next week. We can ask him what action is being taken on foot of the report. It would be helpful for us to make common cause with the Joint Committee on Education and Skills on this matter which, as Deputy Jan O'Sullivan stated , was hidden in plain sight and not...
- Joint Oireachtas Committee On Key Issues Affecting The Traveller Community: Traveller Education: Discussion (Resumed) (26 Nov 2019)
Colette Kelleher: Mr. McDonagh, do you have any comments to make in response?
- Joint Oireachtas Committee On Key Issues Affecting The Traveller Community: Traveller Education: Discussion (Resumed) (26 Nov 2019)
Colette Kelleher: From the groups of Traveller parents that I have met down through the years, there is plenty of ambition and there is plenty of aspiration, it is just that the system does not support Travellers. Their children get excluded, are on a reduced timetable, are getting bullied and listening to nasty words and hate speech. Then there are the practicalities of the cost. Staying in education is...
- Joint Oireachtas Committee On Key Issues Affecting The Traveller Community: Traveller Education: Discussion (Resumed) (26 Nov 2019)
Colette Kelleher: We are hearing a recurring theme in the areas of education, health and mental health that great work is happening but is often funded on a wing and a prayer. We heard that this morning about the yellow flag programme, the Tobar initiative and the Ballyfermot group, and it is important that this committee recommends action in this area. These initiatives work, but they need mainstream...
- Joint Oireachtas Committee On Key Issues Affecting The Traveller Community: Traveller Education: Discussion (Resumed) (26 Nov 2019)
Colette Kelleher: I now know the age of the Deputy.
- Joint Oireachtas Committee On Key Issues Affecting The Traveller Community: Traveller Education: Discussion (Resumed) (26 Nov 2019)
Colette Kelleher: The Deputy has asked specific questions on the visiting teacher scheme. She emphasised that structural changes must be put in place that are similar to those that were put in place to assist people from working class backgrounds to access education. Gaps in such access still exist.
- Joint Oireachtas Committee On Key Issues Affecting The Traveller Community: Traveller Education: Discussion (Resumed) (26 Nov 2019)
Colette Kelleher: However, we know the methods and means.
- Joint Oireachtas Committee On Key Issues Affecting The Traveller Community: Traveller Education: Discussion (Resumed) (26 Nov 2019)
Colette Kelleher: Mr. McDonagh might like to share an experience he had at Trinity Hall.
- Joint Oireachtas Committee On Key Issues Affecting The Traveller Community: Traveller Education: Discussion (Resumed) (26 Nov 2019)
Colette Kelleher: There is that exposure to casual racism-----
- Joint Oireachtas Committee On Key Issues Affecting The Traveller Community: Traveller Education: Discussion (Resumed) (26 Nov 2019)
Colette Kelleher: -----that can cause people not to put themselves into positions where it may occur.
- Joint Oireachtas Committee On Key Issues Affecting The Traveller Community: Traveller Education: Discussion (Resumed) (26 Nov 2019)
Colette Kelleher: The committee can ask the Department for the statistics on participation.
- Joint Oireachtas Committee On Key Issues Affecting The Traveller Community: Traveller Education: Discussion (Resumed) (26 Nov 2019)
Colette Kelleher: We could look at the levels of participation. People need to trust that when they send their little one to a crèche, it is a welcoming place that understands them. This has been a theme running from early years to primary to secondary level and Mr. McDonagh has given us examples of third level. We will ask for the statistics on uptake of early education because that has an impact on...
- Joint Oireachtas Committee On Key Issues Affecting The Traveller Community: Traveller Education: Discussion (Resumed) (26 Nov 2019)
Colette Kelleher: That is a common theme emerging that will not be in our report.
- Joint Oireachtas Committee On Key Issues Affecting The Traveller Community: Traveller Education: Discussion (Resumed) (26 Nov 2019)
Colette Kelleher: Are there any comments or reactions to the comments made by Deputy Ferris?
- Joint Oireachtas Committee On Key Issues Affecting The Traveller Community: Traveller Education: Discussion (Resumed) (26 Nov 2019)
Colette Kelleher: Mr. McDonagh made four recommendations. He referred to deliberate targeting, which was clear. Firm recommendations have come from all witnesses today that affirmative action needs to happen from the early years, right through to primary, second and third level and into employment. Initiatives that are working, like Yellow Flag, Tobar and Traveller pride events, need to be put on a firm...