Vol. 477 No. 7
41 Mr. E. Byrne asked the Minister for Education the percentage of traveller children of primary school age currently participating in education; the proposals, if any, she has for continuing the development of the visiting teacher service and monitoring school attendance patterns, as detailed in the White Paper on Education; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [10178/97]
Research conducted by the Task Force on the Travelling Community in 1995 indicated that of the estimated 5,000 traveller children of primary school age, 4,200 were attending primary schools at that time. This represents a participation rate of 84 per cent.
As stated in the White Paper on Education, Charting our Education Future, my objective is to promote full and inclusive participation of traveller children in the education system.
In keeping with this commitment, I recently allocated an additional three posts to the visiting teacher service for travellers. This allocation brings the number of teachers in the visiting teacher service for travellers to 15. I will keep the needs of this service under ongoing review as part of my commitment to ensuring that my goal of full participation by the children in question is realised.
On school attendance, the Deputy may be aware that work is ongoing in my Department on the preparation of legislation to update the provisions relating to school attendance at first and second level. Monitoring of school attendance will form part of the proposed legislation and will be applicable to all children, including children of the travelling community.
