Marc Ó Cathasaigh (Waterford, Green Party)
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151. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the position with regard to progressing the Traveller Culture and History in Education Bill 2018; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13452/22]

Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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I would like to assure the Deputy that I fully support improving educational outcomes for Travellers, and that includes ensuring that the school setting is a stable, secure, welcoming and inclusive learning environment. Developing knowledge and understanding of, and promoting Traveller culture and history in schools will help build a recognition of the important value of Traveller culture and history to this country and help to improve a sense of belonging for Traveller children in schools.

In 2019, the National Council for Curriculum and Assessment (NCCA) published a curriculum audit on Traveller history and culture. The audit identified areas across the curriculum where teachers could teach about aspects of Traveller history and culture, and it addressed early years, primary and post-primary. It is available at: ncca.ie/media/4613/travellerculturehistory.pdf

The audit has provided the basis for further and ongoing work in this area. An expert advisory group has been established by the NCCA to inform the work being carried out, and it includes representatives and members of the Traveller community. A full-time education officer was appointed in September 2020 to progress the next steps, which include:

- identifying existing initiatives and supports across the three education sectors (early childhood, primary and post-primary) and exploring how they can be further enhanced, supported and possibly replicated;

- identifying existing resources and materials and exploring the kinds of new support material and resources that need developing;

- working directly with early childhood settings and schools to identify good practice underpinned by principles of inclusion, intercultural education, and learning about Traveller history and culture.

My Department will continue to collaborate positively and proactively with Traveller representative groups, and to progress a range of actions aimed at improving education outcomes for the Traveller community.