Mick Wallace (Wexford, Independent)
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Question 57: To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if she will examine and reverse the decision to withdraw the visiting teacher service for Travellers' posts; if she will acknowledge the disproportionate nature of cutbacks to Traveller education; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19168/11]

Frances Fitzgerald (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael)
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The Visiting Teacher Service for Travellers (VTST) is one of the services integrated under the National Educational Welfare Board alongside the School Completion Programme, the Home School Community Liaison and the Education Welfare Service. The National Recovery Plan 2011 to 2014 includes a range of measures which impact on every sector of the public service. The decision to remove the VTST is just one of these measures and while this decision will unquestionably lead to significant challenges for schools as well as other services the decision will not be reversed. As part of the development of the Integrated Service, the NEWB will be required to adapt its remaining support services to include a renewed focus on supporting all children at risk including Traveller children.