Seán Crowe (Dublin South West, Sinn Fein)
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Question 72: To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the alleviation measures being provided to assist schools who have had their resource teachers for Travellers withdrawn under circular 0017/2011. [9930/11]

Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
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In recognition that the withdrawal of Resource Teacher for Traveller posts/teaching hours may have an initial impact on schools, limited adjustment or alleviation measures are being provided to assist schools that have high concentrations of Traveller pupils who were previously supported by Resource Teachers for Travellers.

In respect of DEIS, (Developing Equality of Opportunity in Schools), Traveller enrolments have been included in the valid enrolment for the purpose of allocating additional staffing under DEIS from the 2011/12 school year. The schools involved have already received their staffing allocations for next year.

For schools other than DEIS schools in receipt of enhanced pupil teacher ratios, alleviation measures are being provided to assist schools with high concentrations of Traveller pupils who were previously supported by RTT posts. Any proposed alleviation measures must be considered in the context of the limited resources which are available to my Department. As such, alleviation measures are being concentrated on schools which have 33 or more pupils supported by RTT posts.

The decision to withdraw Resource Teacher for Travellers was taken by the previous Government in the last Budget. The Deputy will understand that the economic situation means very difficult decisions have had to be taken. The requirement to make expenditure savings and to ensure that staffing numbers remain within the Public Service Employment Control Framework prevent me from re-visiting this decision.