Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)

Is there any evidence available that there has been progress, from the point of view of the children, where mainstreaming has occurred? Earlier in the summer the issue arose in regard to transport to specific schools for children from the Traveller community and the Department replied that efforts had been made to achieve more mainstreaming of the children in terms of attending their local secondary school instead of being transported to centres some distance away. Does the Minister agree that there is potential in mainstreaming that would benefit the children and ensure the retention rate is improved?

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