Written answers

Tuesday, 3 November 2020

Department of Education and Skills

Traveller Education

Photo of Louise O'ReillyLouise O'Reilly (Dublin Fingal, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

727. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the measures being taken to ensure Travellers have their educational needs met, that discrimination against Travellers in school settings is eradicated and that Travellers are encouraged and helped stay in school until leaving certificate level; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32673/20]

Photo of Norma FoleyNorma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

A wide variety of measures are underway to ensure my Department supports Traveller children in having their educational needs met. Funding for previous segregated Traveller provision has been incorporated into schools and overall funding streams in order to provide supports for Traveller pupils in mainstream schools. A new model for allocating Special Education Teachers in mainstream schools provides a single allocation for special educational supports based on each school’s educational profile. The model establishes a school’s educational profile, which includes traveller children, enrolled in a school under the following strands:

- The number of students with complex special educational needs.

- The social context of school which at primary level, one component includes the number of traveller pupils and at post primary schools, is based on the number of pupils who had exam fee exemptions, including Traveller pupils.

- Percentages of students performing below a certain threshold on standardised test results which includes schools with pupils from the Traveller community who may be attaining lower standardised test scores.

The Department currently spends €1.9b, or over 20% of its total educational budget annually, on making additional provision for children with special educational needs. Schools are provided with additional pupil capitation for Travellers at a current cost of €1.2 million.

In addition, investment of some €125 million is provided by the Department's DEIS Programme for educational inclusion providing for smaller class sizes and other supports including additional teaching posts, Home School Community Liaison Coordinators, DEIS grants, enhanced book grants, curriculum supports, priority access to Continuing Professional Development and the School Excellence Fund for DEIS. Traveller pupils are also included for the purposes of determining the level of mainstream teaching staff in the relevant DEIS schools.

My Department’s Action Plan on Bullying sets out a comprehensive approach to tackling all forms of bullying, including identity based bullying, and to promoting positive, inclusive environments in all schools. Actions focus on support for schools, teacher training, research and awareness raising and aim to ensure that all forms of bullying, including identity based bullying, are addressed.The procedures acknowledge that while bullying can happen to any pupil, it is known that some may be more vulnerable to or at risk of experiencing bullying including Traveller and ROMA children. The Department, in consultation with Traveller representative groups, has commissioned research on the experiences of Traveller and ROMA children in schools and the effectiveness of the Departments anti-bullying procedures. Three field workers have been recruited from Traveller and ROMA communities to assist with the research. The final report is expected before the end of this year.

My Department is committed to improving educational outcomes for Traveller and ROMA children through the implementation of the education actions of the National Traveller and ROMA Inclusion Strategy (NTRIS). NTRIS takes a whole of Government approach to improving the lives of Travellers and Roma in Ireland in practical and tangible ways. Departments have worked together to identify actions that can be taken to bring about a real improvement in the quality of life for Travellers and Roma. It also aims to improve public service engagement with Traveller and Roma communities.

The most significant issue for Traveller and Roma children in the education system is that of school attendance, retention and participation. Responding to specific actions in the NTRIS and the DEIS Plan, a Two Year Pilot Programme to target attendance, participation and retention/school completion has been established in four specific Traveller and ROMA Communities (Ballymun/Finglas/Coolock; Tuam, Co. Galway; Enniscorthy/Bunclody, Wexford and Cork City) . Partners in the project along with this Department include Tusla Education Support Services (TESS), Department of Children, Disability, Equality and Integration and Traveller and ROMA representatives. Each pilot area is being provided with an additional Educational Welfare Officer (EWO) and Home School Liaison Coordinator (HSCL) and two additional Traveller/ROMA Education Workers. It is intended that the pilot will inform future policy in the area of Traveller and ROMA education.

Comments

No comments

Log in or join to post a public comment.