Michael Creed (Cork North West, Fine Gael)
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Question 201: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Education and Skills if she has received an application to retain a resource teacher for Travellers post from schools (details supplied) in County Cork; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [1467/11]

Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
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My Department has received a representation in respect of Resource Teacher for Traveller posts at the schools mentioned by the Deputy.

The position is that the Government has taken a decision to provide educational teaching supports to Traveller students on the same basis as other students in schools. This means that Traveller students who require additional tuition will receive this tuition through the existing learning support provision in schools.

All schools will be advised to select students for learning support on the basis of priority of need.

Resource Teacher for Traveller posts will be withdrawn, effective from September 2011. It is intended that alleviation measures will be provided for schools with high concentrations of Traveller children and that schools will shortly be advised of the alleviation measures which will apply and of the qualifying criteria.

My Department will advise all schools of their staffing allocation in advance of the next school year.