Eileen Flynn (Independent) | Oireachtas source

I want to talk about Traveller education. The reduced timetables for Traveller education are still very much alive today within our education system and our schools. At least 4% of Traveller children in primary school are on reduced timetables and more than 10% to 12% are on reduced timetables in second-level education. Then, in special schools, 24% of the Traveller community are on reduced timetables. From reading the report, my understanding is that some of the children are put on these reduced timetables and it is nothing to do with needs but more of a punishment. I encourage my colleagues to read the report that was launched last week on reduced timetables. I welcome the report because it gives us ground to work on, but I would like the Minister for Education to appear in front of the House to debate this and for all of us to get involved in talking about solutions for Travellers in our education system.

Also on the topic of education, the Traveller Culture and History in Education Bill 2018 is nowhere to be seen. Once again, it is not on the work programme of the education committee due to a lack of communication and the Minister kicking it down the road and saying we will do it next term. I have been very patient for the past nearly two years in leading the Bill to Committee Stage but we need answers around this. There have been poor actions around the Bill and its implementation. The Traveller Culture and History in Education Bill is not going to educate Travellers around their own culture and identity. What it will do is educate children from the general population within our education system around Traveller ways of life and Traveller values and culture. It is important for Traveller communities and it is about time that Traveller children were valued within our education system.