Derek Keating TD

Derek was elected to Dáil Éireann in February 2011. Derek is currently on the Oireachtas Education Committee and has a particular interest in adult education. He was first elected to South Dublin County Council (SDCC) in 1999 and was re-elected in 2004 and 2009. Derek has also served as a member of the Oireachtas Committee on Health & Children.

Derek was born and raised in Ballyfermot, Dublin, in a local authority dwelling with both parents and is the eldest of six surviving children, four sisters and one brother. Both he and his parents participated in all areas of community, sports, local organisations and the church. Derek was educated at St Michael’s Primary School and De La Salle Primary and Secondary Schools, Ballyfermot, and later qualified as a Sports and Fitness Instructor, specialising in the fitness of children and teenagers.

Derek is involved in charity work in Lucan and Dublin, and is particularly dedicated to suicide prevention, representing people with special needs and working with our young people in the training of leadership, health and fitness, and education.

He is married to Anne, a retired primary school Deputy Principal and they have two adult daughters, Niamh and Sinéad. Derek is a sports fanatic and a fan in particular of soccer, rugby and GAA, and he himself competed in athletics. He is also a keen player of the guitar and a singer, and a great fan of The Beatles and James Taylor. Derek is a committed and active member of his parish church.