Vol. 415 No. 9
103 Proinsias De Rossa asked the Minister for Education the plans, if any, he has for initiatives or reforms to meet the particular educational need for members of the travelling community; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
A number of important initiatives are being taken in relation to the educational needs of the traveller children. These include the allocation of four of the additional teacher posts which became available under the Programme for Economic and Social Progress to augment existing services for traveller children.
One of the new posts is being assigned to a newly created position of national education officer for traveller children, whose function will be to promote, facilities and co-ordinate the education of traveller children on a national basis.
The remaining three posts will be used to expand the visiting teacher service for traveller children by providing new posts in Counties Kerry and Wexford and an additional post in the Greater Dublin area. These three posts have now been filled and the national education officer post will be filled shortly.
In relation to post-primary education, a departmental working group has been established to examine the educational needs of traveller children. This group is expected to report in the early part of this year.
The question of the educational needs of traveller children will be addressed more fully in the Green Paper.
