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

1006. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the measures being taken to ensure Travellers have greater access and opportunities to avail of third-level education; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32674/20]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

The third National Access Plan for Equity of Access to Higher Education (2015 -2019) (NAP) identifies Irish Travellers as one of the target groups that are currently being under-represented in higher education. The vision of the National Access Plan is to ensure that the student body entering into, participating in and completing higher education at all levels reflects the diversity and social mix of Ireland's population.

A progress review of the National Access Plan, published in December 2018, acknowledges a number of significant positive developments and characterises the first phase of implementation of the NAP as a period of achievement and investment. A major element of both progress to date and the future implementation of the plan has been the increased investment in new access initiatives since the original publication of the National Access Plan (NAP).

While increases in participation in Irish Travellers are evident in the NAP, there remains a significant challenge in achieving the target in respect of the Traveller target group.

It is hoped that the numerous initiatives under the strands of The Programme for Access to Higher Education (PATH) funding aimed at increasing Traveller participation will assist in the realisation of the target and enhance understanding of the barriers that exist in respect of access to higher education by Traveller students. Even though the realisation of targets is proving difficult, evidence has shown that the number of Irish Travellers accessing higher education has increased from 35 (2012/2013) to 61 (2017/2018), a 74% increase, since the commencement of this National Access Plan.

Arising from the progress review published in 2018, the Department published priority actions in the Action Plan for Education 2019 and made a commitment to the development of an action plan for increasing Traveller participation in higher education.

While recognising the supports that are already in place to support Irish Traveller Participation in higher education across the education spectrum, the purpose of this action plan is to bring a particular focus of attention and afford particular priority to certain actions.

The overall objective of the Action Plan is to advance Traveller participation in higher education within the context of approaches across the education spectrum on retention and transitions of Travellers.

Reporting on the actions commenced in September 2020 and a recent report shows there are dedicated Programme for Access to Higher Education (PATH) projects that focus on targeting increased Traveller participation in Higher Education.

Projects under the PATH strand 1 Initial Teacher Education focuses on targeting increased Traveller participation at primary level through engagement with Traveller community groups and targeted post primary schools, the provision of direct entry places and continuous support for Travellers who have been identified as aspiring to become a primary school teacher. 7 Traveller students registered on a PATH 1 programme as of 30 September 2019.

PATH Strand 2 the 1916 Bursary Fund has supported 39 Traveller students over the last three years. This strand reports a high success rate for students who are Travellers obtaining the bursary.

Projects under the PATH Strand 3 Higher Education Access Fund also support Irish Travellers in progressing to Higher Education.

I am delighted to report that the PATH fund has a current investment envelope of €33.9 million over the period 2016 to 2022, across the three strands. Approximately PATH Funding of €1.5m has already been targeted specifically to support Traveller participation in higher education over the first three years of the current National Access Plan.