Dáil Éireann debate -
Thursday, 14 Nov 1996

Vol. 471 No. 6

Written Answers. - Task Force on Travelling Community.

Peadar Clohessy

Question:

7 Mr. Clohessy asked the Minister for Education the progress, if any, that has been made in implementing the recommendations of the Task Force on the Travelling Community on education; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [21187/96]

Michael McDowell

Question:

60 Mr. M. McDowell asked the Minister for Education the progress, if any, which has been made in implementing the recommendations of the Task Force on the Travelling Community on education; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [21189/96]

Trevor Sargent

Question:

114 Mr. Sargent asked the Minister for Education if she will establish a traveller education service as recommended by the Task Force on the Travelling Community. [21467/96]

Minister for Education (Ms Bhreathnach)

I propose to take Question Nos. 7, 60 and 114 together.

The report of the Task Force on the Travelling Community contains more than 160 separate recommendations relating to education and training of travellers. The recommendations are very wide-ranging and span the full spectrum of educational provision from pre-school to adult education.

Following publication of the report in July 1995, the Government established an interdepartmental working group, chaired by the Department of Equality and Law Reform, and including representatives of all Departments with an involvement in the area, to consider the feasibility of implementing the recommendations.

The working group reported earlier this year. The recommendations which have implications for my Department are now being pursued. The report of the task force recommended that additional posts be allocated to the visiting teacher service for travellers. The House will be aware that I have recently announced my decision to allocate a further three teachers to this service in the current year. These posts will be advertised shortly.

The report also recommended that responsibility for senior traveller training centres, which cater for 15 to 25 year old travellers, be transferred from the Department of Enterprise and Employment to the Department of Education. Agreement in principle has already been reached on this issue and my Department is working on the detailed arrangements for the transfer.

In addition the interdepartmental group concluded that the co-ordination of the delivery of education services for travellers could best be addressed by creating a special committee in my Department which would consult with the various interest groups, including traveller organisations. This committee has now been formed and will hold its first meeting within the next week.

My commitment to the future development of education services for travelling people is set out clearly in the White Paper on Education, Charting our Education Future. My aim, as set out in the White Paper, is to promote the full and inclusive participation of travellers at all levels of the education system.