Lynn Ruane (Independent) | Oireachtas source

Two years ago, when the Minister for Education and Skills, Deputy Richard Bruton, was appointed, he created a funding stream for new projects that would widen participation in education. Yesterday, I had the pleasure of launching one such programme, Turn to Teaching, on which I congratulate the Department. This is an access programme for children from diverse backgrounds, including migrants, Travellers and children from schools that would not be able to access the standard of Irish and other subjects required to enter the teaching profession. It provides an access route and will create more diversity in the schools system in order that children from migrant or working class backgrounds can be taught by people who have had the same experiences as they have. Not only will the programme help the school community, but it will also improve retention and encourage young children to aspire to entering the teaching profession as they will see peers who have done so. Turn to Teaching is a positive programme and I am delighted to have been asked to give a weekly guest lecture in Maynooth University. I am honoured to be part of the team.

In this connection, I also raise the decision of the Department of Justice and Equality to withdraw funding from two intercultural centres in Tallaght and Clondalkin, which may result in their closure at the end of May. These centres play a vital role in integrating migrants in the community and providing literacy and other programmes. While the Department of Education and Skills is taking steps to widen participation in one area, the Department of Justice and Equality is taking steps to narrow participation in working class areas. I ask the Leader to request that the Minister of State at the Department of Justice and Equality, Deputy David Stanton, come to the House to bring Senators up to speed on the reasons for the decision to withdraw funding from two vital programmes.