6 Samh 2012, 16:20
The Joint Committee on Education and Social Protection will tomorrow hear from Social Justice Ireland and the TASC independent think-tank on the use of Pre-Budget Audits.
6 November 2012
The meeting will consider whether the Department of Social Protection might make greater use of internal and external policy analysis to capture the full impact of Budget decisions on individuals and families.
Committee Chair Joanna Tuffy TD says: “Budgetary decisions and their impact on the most vulnerable warrant very close consideration before they are finalised. There is a case to be made that analysis from various organisations is underutilised by Departments when finalising each Budget. Our Committee will tomorrow hear from two organisations which regularly conduct policy analysis with a view to curbing the impact of budgetary decisions on income inequality.”
Separately, the Committee will meet with the Special Needs Parents Association, to discuss the on-going challenges they are facing. The Association was established in 2010 to provide a national network to support and represent parents of all persons with special needs or disabilities, regardless of their diagnosis or age.
Deputy Tuffy continues: “The provision of frontline services for those with special needs is a major issue. Therefore, our meeting tomorrow will enable parents with special needs children share their perspectives on the on current challenges facing their families. The Association has concerns around the reduction in education supports for those with special needs at primary, secondary and third level and the lack of transparent information around securing such supports, including for those who are over 18 years old.”
The meeting takes place tomorrow Wednesday 7 November in Committee Room 3, LH 2000 at 1 p.m. The Committee’s public proceedings can be viewed online via this link.
Note that the new meeting time for this Committee is now on Wednesdays from 1 p.m. to 3:30 p.m.
For further information please contact:
Paul Hand,
Houses of the Oireachtas,
Communications Unit,
Leinster House,
Dublin 2
P: +353 1 618 4484
M: +353 87 694 9926
Committee Membership
Deputies:
James Bannon, Fine Gael
Ray Butler, Fine Gael
Áine Collins, Fine Gael
Joan Collins, People Before Profit
Seán Crowe, Sinn Féin
Clare Daly, Independent
Simon Harris, Fine Gael
Charlie McConalogue, Fianna Fáil
Nicky McFadden, Fine Gael
Mary Mitchell O’Connor, Fine Gael
Aodhán Ó Ríordáin, Labour Party (Vice Chair)
Aengus Ó Snodaigh, Sinn Féin
Willie O’Dea, Fianna Fáil
Brendan Ryan, Labour Party
Joanna Tuffy, Labour Party (Chair)
Senators:
Jim D’Arcy
Fidelma Healy Eames
Marie Moloney
Marie Louise O’Donnell
Averil Power
Diarmuid Wilson