Jan O'Sullivan (Limerick City, Labour)
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288. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills to set out the response from third-level institutions to the bursary scheme to increase the number of Travellers participating in third-level education; the number who were offered places through the scheme in 2016 and 2017; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43715/18]

Joe McHugh (Donegal, Fine Gael)
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The National Access Plan for Equity of Access to Higher Education 2015-2019 (NAP) was launched in December 2015, and aims to ensure that the student body entering, participating in and completing higher education at all levels reflects the diversity and social mix of Ireland’s population. Irish Travellers are identified as a target group within the Plan.

To support the implementation of the National Access Plan, the Department of Education and Skills (DES) established the Programme for Access to Higher Education (PATH) fund in 2016. Through PATH a total investment of €16.2 million will be made over the next three years and will see many new initiatives emerge that will support greater levels of access and participation by the target groups in higher education, including Irish Travellers.

The 1916 Bursary Fund supported under PATH 2 provides financial support to students identified by regional clusters of higher education institutions as being most economically disadvantaged from the target groups identified in the National Access Plan 2015-2019, including Irish Travellers.

The first year of implementation of the bursary scheme was 2017/18. The HEA are currently collating data on the number of Irish Traveller students supported under the 1916 Bursary Fund in 2017/18. Regional clusters are in the process of implementing the Fund for 2018/19.

Jan O'Sullivan (Limerick City, Labour)
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289. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills when he will conduct a full audit of the transition and retention outcomes of Traveller children in post-primary education; his plans in place to improve retention; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43717/18]

Joe McHugh (Donegal, Fine Gael)
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This Government recognises the importance of inclusive education for all and is supportive of actions that will ensure that the school setting is a more welcoming environment for all, including Travellers.

The commitment to improve traveller retention and progression is reflected in a number of key policies and initiatives, including the National Traveller and Roma Inclusion Strategy (NTRIS), launched by the Department of Justice and Equality in June 2017, and my Department’s DEIS Plan for educational inclusion, also launched last year.

My Department’s DEIS Plan 2017 also has specific actions in relation to promoting improvements in school attendance and completion in order to improve educational outcomes and overall life chances for Traveller and Roma children and young people.

As part of the National Traveller and Roma Inclusion Strategy, officials from my Department, the Department of Justice and Equality and TUSLA have been engaging with Traveller representative groups to specifically identify and agree an approach to improving educational outcomes for Travellers and Roma. TUSLA is leading this cross-departmental initiative which will be piloted for a two year period to try to address the gaps outlined. My Department has committed to the allocation of additional Home School Community Liaison Resources to support this project. This pilot will inform the development of a sustainable programme to address the gap in educational outcomes for children and young people from the Travelling and Roma communities.