Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
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Question 160: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Education and Skills the educational basis for her decision to withdraw the visiting teachers service for Travellers in the recent budget; the amount expected to be saved by this decision; the alleviation measures she has put in place in view of this decision; if she will consider reversing this cutback; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3715/11]

Seán Haughey (Dublin North Central, Fianna Fail)
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In recent years substantial improvements have been made with regard to the number of Traveller children participating in the education system. Information to hand indicates that participation at primary level and transition to post-primary is very close to 100%. In September 2009, some 8,301 Traveller children were enrolled in age appropriate classes in primary schools and 3,014 were enrolled at Post-Primary level.

The Report and Recommendations for a Traveller Education Strategy was launched in 2006, following wide ranging consultation with relevant stakeholders including Traveller representative groups, and covers all aspects of Traveller education from pre-school to further and higher education. The principle of inclusion is at the core of the strategy and future provision must 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'. This will depend on a number of factors including the successful implementation of the recommendations of the strategy and the redistribution in favour of provision on the basis of identified educational need of Traveller students and the need for my Department to prioritise the available resources to maximum effect across the education sector to enhance educational outcomes for all including Traveller children and adults.

The Visiting Teachers service has cost in the region of €2.8million each year. At present there are 41 posts in this service. Until September 2009 the Visiting Teachers Service for Travellers was managed directly by the Regional Office Directorate within my Department.

In September 2009 the Service was transferred to the National Education Welfare Board to be integrated with existing school support services to provide a more focussed approach to deliver better outcomes for children and families, including the Traveller Community. Visiting Teachers work with pupils, parents and schools to ensure that Traveller pupils attend and engage with their education.

The decision to remove this service is just one of a range of measures, included in the National Recovery Plan 2011 to 2014, to secure some €24m in savings in the 2011/2012 school year. The service will therefore be discontinued with effect from 31 August 2011.

As part of the ongoing development of integrated services within the NEWB, the Board will be requested to re-focus and adapt its support services, including the School Completion Programme and the Home School Liaison Service to provide comprehensive supports to Travellers in the future.

The set of measures included in the National Recovery Plan 2011 to 2014 impacts on every sector of the public service and will unquestionably lead to significant challenges for schools as well as the Department in the coming years. The major challenge will undoubtedly be to seek improved outcomes for children with fewer resources.