Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 20 Feb 1996

Vol. 461 No. 7

Written Answers. - Visiting Teacher Service.

Micheál Martin

Question:

84 Mr. Martin asked the Minister for Education the plans, if any, she has to implement the recommendations of the Task Force on the Travelling Community, in particular the expansion of the visiting teacher service, in view of the fact that the 20 positions due to be filled in 1995 did not materialise as a result of the public service embargo. [1952/96]

Minister for Education (Ms Bhreathnach)

The report of the Task Force on the Travelling Community contained over 160 separate recommendations in relation to education and training for travellers.

The Government established an interdepartmental working group to consider the implementation of the report, including the cost factors involved. I understand that this report is now being finalised and will be submitted to Government within the next few weeks.

The task force recommended that the visiting teacher service for travellers be expanded to a level where one visiting teacher would be available to serve every one hundred traveller families. The task force estimated that such a development would require an increase in the number of visiting teachers from the current 12 to 39.

Unfortunately the proposed appointment of an additional 20 visiting teachers for travellers was unable to proceed in 1995 due to the Government's need to curtail the growth of numbers in the public sector. I can assure the House of my ongoing commitment to the educational needs of traveller children. I am continuing to review these needs in the context of available resources.