Eileen Flynn (Independent) | Oireachtas source

We had a meeting with the Department in November, which was very good.

I left it feeling so energised, that the Department was trying its best in respect of equal opportunities for members of the Traveller community in the education system.

I have had mothers come up to me in Labre Park halting site to tell me that their child is on a reduced timetable and that Tusla does not have anything to do with it, and that report has not even gone to Tusla. As I said earlier, what really happens is that it is the teacher who makes the decision on whether the child is involved in class. Children are on a reduced timetable and the teacher decides they are on it for a month or a week and the parents see it as a punishment. This action by the Department is something and, as Mr. Hanlon said, we will not know if it is working for another wee while. It is important that we keep pushing it, however, and that we say it is not acceptable from the Department of Education.