Mary Wallace TD Elected to Chair Oireachtas Education Committee

The Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills has today (2nd) elected Mary Wallace TD to the role of Committee Chairman.

Deputy Wallace assumes the role during what is a particularly active and significant time for the Committee. The Committee has responsibility for analysing education policy, evaluating the impact any new strategies are likely to have on the education sector and making recommendations for new initiatives in the field.

Today the Committee held an in-depth meeting which analysed curriculum reform of the third level sector with representatives from second level teachers, university lecturers and third level students. At its next meeting, the Committee will be focusing on the issue of special needs education.

New Committee Chairman, Mary Wallace TD:
“I am privileged to have been elected today to chair this most important of Oireachtas Committees. This Committee has can play an active role in helping to formulate and influence education policy. The Oireachtas Committee system allows TDs and Senators to directly interact with those who work at in the front line of their chosen field and enables Oireachtas members to utilise best practice to help formulate real change.

Today’s meeting with the various strands who have an interest in ensuring the quality of Ireland’s third level graduates is a case in point. We heard from experts in the sector about how the third level sector must be closely aligned to the future skills need of Ireland’s economic renewal. What emerged from the meeting was that the needs of students and their place in the third level education sector is paramount and new innovative ways were put forward has to how this can be achieved.

Based on today’s meeting, the Committee intends to communicate the findings to the Minister for Education and Skills and seek her response to some of the proposals outlined.”

The groups which presented at today’s meeting were; the Irish Universities Association, the Higher Education Authority, Union of Students Ireland, Teachers Union of Ireland, Irish Federation of University Teachers, IBEC and the Institute of Technology Ireland.

ENDS
Daniel English
Oireachtas Communications Unit
01 618 4484
087 6949926