Written answers

Wednesday, 10 December 2008

Department of Education and Science

Traveller Community

10:00 pm

Photo of Aengus Ó SnodaighAengus Ó Snodaigh (Dublin South Central, Sinn Fein)
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Question 208: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the reason the advisory committee on Traveller education has not met since 2006. [45419/08]

Photo of Seán HaugheySeán Haughey (Dublin North Central, Fianna Fail)
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The Advisory Committee on Traveller Education was established in July 1998, arising from one of the recommendations of the 1995 Report of the Task Force on the Travelling Community. Its terms of reference were to "advise the Minister of Education and Science on the provision of education services for the people of the Travelling community."

Membership of the committee was drawn from the main stakeholders in Traveller education including representatives of the Departments of Education and Science and Justice, Equality and Law Reform as well as representatives of the Education Partners and of the main Traveller Representative bodies and the Travelling Community.

In November 2003, a Joint Working Group, consisting of members of the Advisory Committee on Traveller Education, the Educational Disadvantage Committee and three of the principal national Traveller organisations was established to provide recommendations for a new Traveller Education Strategy. The last meeting of the ACTE was in October 2005, when it considered the draft Report of the Joint Working Group.

The Report and Recommendations for a Traveller Education Strategy was launched in November 2006. The recommendations contained in the report are intended to address the Educational needs of Travellers from pre-school through to further and higher education. My Department established an internal working group to oversee the implementation of the recommendations. The severe educational challenges faced by young Traveller children is recognised and although it is too early to predict the outcomes attributable to the changes which the strategy will bring, there is already some evidence of improvement in school attendance, transfer from primary to post primary and completion of upper second level.

While it is of immeasurable importance, access to education is only one of the serious challenges faced by the Traveller Community. Issues including health, housing, equality, policing and social welfare dependency are also critical to improve conditions of and participation by the Traveller Community in Irish society. In this context the establishment of the National Traveller Monitoring and Advisory Committee (NTMAC) in March 2007 was a very welcome and important development. The NTMAC involves all relevant stakeholders with representation from central and local government, the Traveller Community, Traveller Representative Bodies, Social Partners and the Health Services. The NTMAC is a forum which provides an opportunity, at a very high level, to develop and enhance consultation and collaboration with all stakeholders on the full range of issues, including education, rather than adopting a fragmented approach to consultation. On its establishment the NTMAC appointed a number of sub-committees to consider and consult upon a range of key issues facing Travellers. Central to the terms of reference of one of these sub-committees was the role of education. The sub-committee concluded its work in June 2008.

The strategy which is at an early phase of its implementation has been fully consulted and agreed by stakeholders. At present my department is consulting with the NTMAC on the merits of establishing a new consultative forum which might provide opportunities to engage with relevant stakeholders to review progress and evaluate outcomes after the strategy has embedded. In the meantime my Department will continue to play a full part in the work of NTMAC and its committees.

Photo of Aengus Ó SnodaighAengus Ó Snodaigh (Dublin South Central, Sinn Fein)
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Question 209: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the steps being taken to address the fact that two thirds of Traveller children do not sit the junior certificate. [45420/08]

Photo of Seán HaugheySeán Haughey (Dublin North Central, Fianna Fail)
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In recent years my Department has taken significant steps in improving the educational outcomes for Traveller Children. Recent reports indicate that transfer from primary to post primary is almost at 100%. The number of Traveller students participating at post primary level has grown from fewer than 100 in 1988 to some 2,500 this year. Notwithstanding these developments, I recognise that there is much room for improvement.

The Report and Recommendations for a Traveller Education Strategy was launched by my colleague Minister Mary Hanafin T.D. in November 2006. The Report covers all aspects of Traveller Education from pre-school right through to further and higher education within a lifelong learning context. The primary aim of the Strategy is to ensure a quality, integrated education for Travellers underpinned by the principles of inclusion and mainstreaming with an emphasis on equality and diversity and the adoption of an intercultural approach. This is in line with the Government's recommendations in the National Action Plan Against Racism (NAPAR) (2005).

The principle of inclusion is at the core of the current strategy and future provision will focus on the development of more inclusive and intercultural school practice and environment through the whole school planning process, admissions policies, codes of behaviour and whole school evaluation. A key aim of the strategy is to enhance access and education service delivery to Travellers. Future provision will focus on 'individual educational need' rather than 'Traveller identity'

Education is a key element in supporting greater Traveller participation and empowerment in our society. The link between education, training and enterprise is perhaps the most vital in helping to increase the range of life choices that are available to Travellers. A lifelong learning approach will focus on the journey from Pre-school to Primary, Post-Primary and on to employment or further education and training.

At present my Department spends some €65m directly on Traveller education from pre-school through primary, post primary and further and higher education. Direct supports include some 503 resource teachers at primary level, 42 Visiting teachers and additional teaching hours at post primary level. In addition to this some 651 personnel are deployed in schools serving disadvantaged communities under the School Completion Programme and the Home School Community Liaison Service to address the needs of children and young persons who are at risk of leaving school early by providing a range of in-school and out of school supports and by engaging with the salient adults in the lives of these children. My Department is working to ensure that all of these services, where they are available in schools, will prioritise those children, including Traveller children, who are at risk of early school leaving.

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