Seán Haughey (Dublin Bay North, Fianna Fail)
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St. Thomas's school in Clonshaugh, Dublin 17, provides junior and senior cycle education for boys from the travelling community. It has been in existence for more than 30 years and currently has 33 students enrolled. Significantly, two pupils will do the leaving certificate examinations this year, three pupils are in fifth year and five pupils who will do the junior certificate examinations in June intend to progress to the leaving certificate. The patron of the school is the Archdiocese of Dublin.

The problem is that the Department of Education and Skills abruptly informed the school in recent days that it must close at the end of the current academic year, that is, in slightly more than one month from now. This decision has shocked school management and staff and students and their parents. I am aware that there have been problems in the school and the Department has carried out a number of inspections over the years. Management and staff strongly believe the Department has consistently failed to engage with them to alleviate any ongoing concerns. For example, a request for an additional teacher to facilitate leaving certificate students was consistently stonewalled by the Department.

I am aware from my time in the Department that inclusion and integration are now key policies in respect of Traveller education. However, St. Thomas's school is unique and still has an important role to play in the context of overall policy objectives.

The trust of parents is important and the parents of the pupils of St. Thomas's school want to send their children to the school. They have a real concern that their children will not survive in a mainstream school. They will certainly not continue to do the leaving certificate examinations if the Department's decision is implemented. The Department should show flexibility in its efforts to achieve overall integration. A leaving certificate qualification is a passport to a better life. While Youthreach is an option, if the students of St. Thomas's school wish to progress to the leaving certificate using the current model, they should be encouraged to do so. They will not enrol in a mainstream school. They are vulnerable and need more time to make the adjustment. I fear most of them will drop out of the system.

I know from first-hand experience the difficulties Travellers face in a mainstream school. I am worried about the effect the Department's sudden decision will have on students who will sit State examinations in June. It is disruptive and unsettling for them and all the other students in the school.

I visited St. Thomas's school last Friday where I met the principal, teachers, parents and pupils. As it happens, some of the students were doing practical examinations as part of the junior certificate home economics examination. I was very impressed with what I saw. Serious concerns were expressed and teachers and special needs assistants are also worried about their future. This issue that will have to be worked out separately.

I was surprised to learn that no formal face-to-face meetings had taken place between representatives of the school and departmental officials to work through problems. St. Thomas's school was given short notice to close its doors. As it is located in the Minister's constituency, I ask him at least to arrange a meeting between the school authorities and departmental officials to discuss these matters.

It is the Minister's constituency. Will he, at the very least, set up a meeting between the school authorities and departmental officials to discuss these matters? If the Department is determined to close the school, can it work out a plan to phase out the school over a number of years so all concerned have plenty of time to put in place alternative arrangements?

Richard Bruton (Dublin Bay North, Fine Gael)
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I thank the Deputy for raising this issue. I understand his concern. For a long time now, since 2006 in fact, the approach to education for Travellers has involved an integrated model. The Department has been moving to wind back the segregated model which was in place and I understand this is the only remaining school operating on this basis. There has been a consistent effort by the Department, working with the patron, to move to an integrated model. The Deputy referred to assessments and engagements with the school where defects had been identified. It is the Department's belief that the best future for these children is in another setting where they will do better, have a wider range of choice, get more support and be able to achieve more. The approach of an integrated setting is strongly favoured and has been a consistent one on the part of the Department. As to ensuring no child falls out of the system as a result of this proposal, I have insisted and the Department is determined to track each of these children to ensure each child gets a suitable placement. We are determined to see that.

I take the Deputy's point about giving this more time and winding the school down over some period, but a great deal of work has been done to adopt a different approach. It has not been successful to date and the Department is of the view that continuing on with this process is not in the best interests of the young people concerned. We have been successful in integrating young students in the system and there is growing rather than diminishing participation. The belief is that this decision is the correct one. Wider initiatives are being undertaken to ensure there is an enhanced uptake by Traveller children in education. The Department acknowledges the weaknesses there. As part of an integrated approach, led by the Department of Justice and Equality, in which we are participating, there are specific educational initiatives to be undertaken, including in our own area, to enhance the participation of Traveller children. That is being done with the support of the Traveller community itself. We have a better model in place and we are seeking to enhance it. That is the backdrop to this decision.

Obviously, it is the patron not the Department that closes a school. It is the patron which makes the decision on a matter like this. However, the Department has been working to see a better outcome and to move to a setting in which there is a wider range of subject choices and more supports. That is the direction in which this is going. I am acutely aware of the concerns raised by the Deputy. Equally, I am determined that no child is displaced by this. It is very important to work with Tusla and the patron through my Department and other schools to ensure these young men are supported in their continuing education.

Seán Haughey (Dublin Bay North, Fianna Fail)
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I am aware of the integrated model. As the Minister knows, I was a Minister of State in the Department of Education and Skills with special responsibility for educational disadvantage as well as further education and training. Decisions were made at that time on senior Traveller training centres and so on. This school is a special one. It has a very special model in its own right. When I met some of the parents last Friday, their attitude was "Here we go again". They see Travellers at the bottom of the pile with the school being closed in one month and their children, quite simply, being discriminated against again by officialdom. I am also aware that the Minister has met at least one of the teachers in his advice clinic. He might like to deal with that. The teachers are obviously very concerned about the students, first and foremost, but they are also concerned about their own positions and those of the SNAs there. A great deal of work has to be done. To give one month's notice of the closure of the school is too short. It has come as a shock. The teachers and the parents are adamant that pupils simply will not go on to sit the leaving certificate examinations if they have now to enrol in a mainstream school. They will leave. I acknowledge the Minister's assurance that he will track each of the children, but looking at the local secondary schools, including Coláiste Dhúlaigh, which springs to mind, my experience suggests it is very difficult for Travellers to continue on to the leaving certificate. That is the objective. For all of those reasons, the Minister needs to give the school more time to put tracking measures in place, find suitable places and provide for supports. What I have heard is that these children were encouraged up to this point, but they now feel totally let down by the system once again.

Richard Bruton (Dublin Bay North, Fine Gael)
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I will ensure that there is very close liaison with the students to ensure there is an outcome for them. If I get the advice that we can do better for these young people and that prolonging this is not in their best interests, I have to take it seriously. Ultimately, it is the patron that decides whether to close but the policy of moving to a better model has been in place for a long time. The Deputy was in the Department himself in the period. This school is one which has remained in place and defects have been identified. There is no prospect of easily resolving those defects in the current setting. If we can get a new setting, that is the best outcome for the students involved. That is what I have been advised. I am trying to ensure the best outcome for students is achieved. I do not believe, on the basis of the advice I have received, that what the Deputy suggests would achieve that. I share his determination that the interests of the students should be to the fore. We need to work with them to ensure they get suitable placements and can fulfil their potential. I take the Deputy's points and will engage with my officials to ensure we do the very best we can to get a good outcome. I will report back to the Deputy to let him know how we are getting on with successful placement, which I hope we can achieve for the students involved.