Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Deputies for their contributions. I also thank the Senators who previously contributed to the development of the Bill. I particularly acknowledge the personal engagement and personal witness of many of the contributors this evening. These have added greatly to the debate. It is such a positive step that we can garner unanimity within the Chamber on this issue.

I am conscious that this Bill will not put everything to right. No Bill has that capacity but it is important that the Bill speak to opportunity and inclusion for all within the education system, especially Traveller children and young people. The Bill, as currently proposed, provides an opportunity for schools to promote Traveller culture and history. This, in turn, will assist in the development of a greater understanding of our shared history, culture and society. The work being done by the NCCA is important because that work will support schools in this regard. The engagement of an NCCA full-time education officer and the work and research, involving the gathering of examples of best practice and identifying resources and initiatives regarding Traveller culture and history, will support teachers and school leaders in delivering on the objectives of the Bill.

The Department of Education will continue to progress the actions outlined in the NTRIS and the DEIS plan to support educational provision for Travellers. Officials will continue to collaborate positively and proactively with Traveller representative groups in the context of the NTRIS and education provision generally. The strategy pilot on supporting Traveller and Roma, STAR, is under way in four areas and provides for additional staff who work together with Traveller and Roma parents, children and young people, schools, Traveller and Roma communities and local and national service providers with the overall objective of improving Traveller and Roma attendance, participation and retention in education. It is intended that the evaluation of a pilot to be conducted in the next school year will inform future policy initiatives to support children and young people from the Traveller and Roma communities in their education.

The funding provided by the Department of Education for the DEIS programme in 2021 is in the region of €150 million. A total of 887 schools are participating in the programme in the current school year. It is worth noting that approximately 50% of all Traveller students attend DEIS schools. Hence, while I acknowledge that not all Traveller pupils attend DEIS schools, the funding provided to DEIS schools means a greater proportion of Traveller students benefit relative to the general population.

At the end of April, the Department hosted a shared learning day for all DEIS schools, with a particular focus on transitions, a central theme in action planning for improvement in these schools. Well-supported educational transitions are linked to positive educational outcomes. The event was an opportunity for DEIS schools to listen to experiences of successful transition from early years education to primary education and then to post-primary, further and higher education. As part of this event, the attendees heard the inspiring stories of both a Roma student and Traveller student about their individual experiences of our education system and the supports and individuals that helped them progress into and complete higher education and fulfil their potential to the fullest.

Progress is being made on improving educational outcomes for Travellers but I accept more work remains to be done. We must always strive for a better education system, one which best meets the needs of all students within it. In supporting all initiatives to improve Traveller attendance, participation and progression in our education system, the Government agrees to support the Bill in its current format.

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