Health Committee continues hearings on childhood poverty

Committee Chairman, Jerry Buttimer TD said: “Tomorrow, we will continue with our hearings on tackling childhood poverty when we meet with Moira O'Mara, Director, Department of Children and Youth Affairs.

“Childhood poverty is a matter of concern to our Committee and we are very aware of the extent of the issues in communities across the country. Nevertheless, it is very important to hear at first hand from groups and individuals working on the ground to address the problem. Tomorrow we will receive an update on the issue of childhood poverty from the Departments of Children and Youth Affairs, Education & Science and Social Protection.

“Our meeting tomorrow, along with our earlier meetings, will feed into and help inform our report on this issue. As the Committee with a remit in the areas of health and children, it is important for us to play our part in addressing this issue and in helping to devise potential solutions to the problem of childhood poverty.”

The meeting takes place tomorrow, Thursday, 21st March, 2013 at 9.30 am in Committee Room 2, LH 2000.

Committee proceedings can be followed live at:  http://www.oireachtas.ie/parliament/watchlisten/

For further information please contact:

Ciaran Brennan,
Houses of the Oireachtas,
Communications Unit,
Leinster House,
Dublin 2

P: +3531 618 3903
M: 086-0496518
F: +3531 618 4551

ENDS

Committee Membership:

Deputies

Jerry Buttimer, Fine Gael
Catherine Byrne, Fine Gael
Michael Colreavy, Sinn Fein
Ciara Conway, Labour Party
Regina Doherty, Fine Gael
Robert Dowds, Labour Party
Peter Fitzpatrick, Fine Gael
Seamus Healy, Independent
Billy Kelleher, Fianna Fáil
Eamonn Maloney, Labour Party
Mary Mitchell O’Connor, Fine Gael
Mattie McGrath, Independent
Denis Naughten, Independent
Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin, Sinn Fein
Robert Troy, Fianna Fáil

Senators

Colm Burke, Fine Gael
John Crown, Independent
John Gilroy, Labour Party
Imelda Henry, Fine Gael
Marc Mac Sharry, Fine Fail
Jillian Van Turnhout, Independent