Joe O'Reilly (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Leas-Chathaoirleach for the opportunity. As he said, the testimony or statement made by Senator Flynn trumps or transcends anything any of us might say. I am a former teacher and taught a specific Traveller class in my day. I agree with my colleague, Deputy Stanton, who said that over the months and years education is a huge key to opening the windows of wonder, if we want to be clichéd, to create opportunity and change lives. After the material comforts, such as food and shelter, education is the next and biggest critical issue. I do not think there is any argument about that.

I remember from some of these debates in the past that bullying was one of the things to which Traveller children and parents attributed their non-participation or rate of attrition, to use the Leas-Chathaoirleach's term. Forgive me if this has been addressed. I presume the witnesses have addressed many issues, but I could not be on time to the meeting because of other commitments. Bullying was a huge issue. I understand it is now the case that every school must implement a mandatory bullying programme. Please tell me if I am wrong. Could the representatives from the Department confirm that? To what extent is it affecting attrition?

As there is less of a nomadic culture now than there had been traditionally, that should be adversely affecting attrition. It should be helping in that regard, and I presume it is helping. I got the impression that homework clubs are crucial. At a meeting of my parliamentary party yesterday evening, we were speaking about about hot school meals, among other issues. It was never my experience that Traveller children went to school hungry. There was a very big emphasis on making sure that they had proper food and lunch. Could the representatives from the Department tell me what they know about that? Hot school meals are now in place in DEIS schools and the programme is now expanding to other schools. Homework clubs are crucial. Home-school liaison teachers and so on might help to get the parents over their cultural difficulties. When I was young - a time that is becoming a little bit more historic by the day - there was a culture and a fear among parents, particularly around young women, that it may result in them becoming single mums, etc. A crucial factor is alleviating fears among parents, and homework clubs are crucial to that.

Despite what Senator Flynn said - and all her points remain valid - I got the impression from listening to the speaker who is sitting on my immediate right that the numbers have improved considerably and there is a considerable improvement in the number staying in school and continuing in education to completion. I got the impression that there has been a great improvement in completion. It sounded to me as though it is remarkably better than the last time I heard these figures.

I will not go on about retention. In summary, the home-school liaison aspect is critical. Regarding the bullying issue, I would be interested in all the responses of the representatives. That was an issue. There is an ignorance, for want of a better term. I do not mean that in a pejorative sense; I mean it in a good way. In the past, there was a lack of awareness among parents regarding what secondary school meant. That was a problem and maybe the home-school liaison teams can help them to get over that. Homework clubs are crucial and the figures are improving. Could the witnesses respond to some of those points? I thank them very much. I will leave it at that, but if something arises later, I can come back in.