Clare TD Cathal Crowe appointed chairperson of powerful Oireachtas committee

Clare TD Cathal Crowe has been appointed as Chairperson of the Oireachtas Committee on Education and Youth, it has been confirmed.

The appointment is one of a number made by Taoiseach, Micheál Martin, ahead of the return of Dáil Éireann next week,  following the Easter recess.

It is expected the committee will not formally meet for a number of weeks, with the date of the first meeting yet to be confirmed. 

Reacting to his appointment, Mr Crowe said he is delighted. "I was a member of this important committee in the last Dáil and I really enjoyed getting my sleeves rolled up to work on a wide array of education issues," he said on social media, adding that he worked as a primary school teacher for 14 years prior to his election.

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"I also served as the assistant principal and I will bring this experience with me to the role and I hope to be a strong voice for children in education and all those who work in the sector.

"While the role will be an impartial one, I hope to use the platform I've been given by the Taoiseach to raise the profile of quite a number of issues affecting youth and the education sector in Clare and beyond," added Deputy Crowe.