Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Social Protection

On the 2nd of December 2014 I was honoured to be appointed to the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Social Protection

‌The Joint  Committee on Education and Social Protection has a broad remit in shadowing two key Government Departments. It seeks to provide a meaningful input into legislation and policy, with a number of  goals such as:

·         Ensuring Ireland’s education system benefits all of society and is recognised internationally as a top class system

·         Ensuring that our most vulnerable citizens are protected by a strong and equitable social welfare system.

·         Supporting economic recovery and social renewal. 

 As a teacher and trade unionist the goals of the Committee are aligned with my own commitment to addressing educational and economic disadvantage. I have a particular interest in Second level, Further Education and Third Level Education  and am committed to excellence in all sectors 

Since being appointed to the Committee in December I have taken part in meetings which examined Jobless Households, Higher Education and Short-Term Unemployment.

Committee Schedule

2 December 14
Education Committee to consider online learning potential

9 December 14
Select Education sub-Committee to consider 2014 Supplementary Estimate for the Department of Education and Skills

13 January 15
Social Protection Committee to explore issues in relation to jobless households

20 January 15
Social Protection Committee to examine the impact of social protection payments on income distribution

27 January 15
Education & Social Protection Committee to examine issues surrounding the short-term unemployed

3 February 15
HEA to brief Education Committee on issues confronting higher level education

11 February 15
Education Committee to discuss 21st century universities