Willie Penrose (Longford-Westmeath, Labour)
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Question 130: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Education and Skills the position regarding the proposal concerning senior Traveller training centres, and the Government's intention regarding the continuation of these centres, which are extremely important in the overall educational context; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35086/10]

Seán Haughey (Dublin North Central, Fianna Fail)
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In relation to funding and resources for Traveller education overall, the 2006 Report and Recommendation for a Traveller Education Strategy recommended that Senior Traveller Training Centre (STTC) provision be reviewed. My Department then conducted a Value for Money Review of the Youthreach and STTC programmes. The Review was published in 2008 and recommended the phasing out of segregated STTC provision over the medium to long term and the mainstreaming of Traveller specific provision. As part of Budget 2009, STTC provision was reduced by 100 places to 984 places from September 2009 and as part of Budget 2010 was reduced by a further 300 places to 684 places, with effect from September 2010. My Department has advised VECs with regard to the implementation of this reduction.

I would like to highlight that all further education programmes have always been and continue to be open to Travellers. These include part-time programmes funded under the Adult Literacy and Community Education scheme and the Back to Education Initiative as well as full-time programmes such as Youthreach, Vocational Training Opportunities Scheme and the Post-Leaving Certificate programme. My Department is continuing to discuss issues around the integration of adult Travellers into further education provision with the Irish Vocational Education Association.