Tommy Broughan (Dublin North East, Labour)
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Question 158: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the action she intends to take following the publication of a report on participation of Travellers in post-primary education which indicated that only 2% of the young Travellers surveyed remained in school beyond junior certificate; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5725/06]

Síle de Valera (Clare, Fianna Fail)
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My Department is concerned to ensure that all young people, including Travellers, have a quality education and that as many as possible remain in post-primary education until they have completed the senior cycle. The needs of the Traveller community are a high priority for me and my Department and substantial investment has been put in place to ensure that they get all the extra supports that they need. For each Traveller student enrolled in a school, my Department provides an additional 1.5 ex quota teaching hours per week and a supplementary capitation grant.

In addition, there are 40 visiting teachers located nationwide, the home school community liaison scheme and the school completion programme working in schools and with the Traveller community to ensure that young Travellers attend and remain in school as long as possible. The National Educational Welfare Board has responsibility for school attendance and its education welfare officers work with schools and parents to promote regular attendance, tackle problems of absenteeism and early school leaving and encourage potential early school leavers, including Travellers, to continue in education for as long as possible.

There is evidence that these substantial extra investments and support are making a difference. In 1999-2000, there were only an estimated 101 Traveller students in transition year, fifth and sixth year. By 2004-05, there were an estimated 261. We are working hard to improve this further.

In addition to post-primary schools, the education needs of young Travellers aged 16 years and over are also being served through their attendance at Youthreach centres, senior Traveller training centres and FÁS community training centres. In December 2004, there were 245 young Travellers under 18 years attending senior Traveller training centres and another 326 were attending Youthreach. Both programmes are funded by my Department. In addition, there are young Travellers attending FÁS community training centres, which are under the aegis of the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment.

My Department continues to evaluate how it can improve the education provision. The DEIS — action plan for educational inclusion — will include a new integrated school support programme which will bring together, and build upon, existing schemes and initiatives. A total of 150 of the most disadvantaged post-primary schools will be targeted under this initiative and Travellers attending these schools will be included.

The inspectorate in my Department is about to publish a report of a survey of Traveller education provision. The report is based on an extensive review of the participation and inclusion of Traveller pupils in 30 primary and six post-primary schools. Its report will provide recommendations that will inform policies and provide strategies to facilitate improving retention of Traveller students to the end of senior cycle.

I am shortly expecting to receive a report on the recommendations for a five-year Traveller education strategy. This report spans the full spectrum of lifelong learning, including post-primary education. This report will also provide recommendations on ways to retain Traveller students to the end of senior cycle. Thus a multi-pronged approach is being taken by my Department to address this issue.