Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 15 Dec 1998

Vol. 498 No. 4

Written Answers. - Traveller Education.

Trevor Sargent

Question:

425 Mr. Sargent asked the Minister for Education and Science the policy proposals, if any, his Department is pursuing to increase attendance at school of traveller children in the 12 to 15 age group; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27484/98]

Trevor Sargent

Question:

426 Mr. Sargent asked the Minister for Education and Science if his attention has been drawn to reports that only 20 per cent of traveller children in the 12 to 15 age group attend school; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27485/98]

Minister for Education and Science (Mr. Martin)

I propose to take Questions Nos. 425 and 426 together.

I am aware of the reports referred to by the Deputy. It is calculated that approximately 1,400 of the estimated 1,800 traveller children in the 12-15 age bracket are in receipt of education services, whether in primary schools, second level schools or in junior education centres.

A key objective of my Department is to increase the number of traveller children benefiting from education provision. To this end I have already established a representative group to advise me in this area. As part of last week's budget package I announced that, as an encouragement to second level schools to meet the needs of local traveller children, a new capitation grant similar to that available at primary level will be introduced in 1999.

My Department recently put in place the eight to 15 year old early school leavers initiative which will run in 14 project areas until June 2000. The project aims to develop effective strategies for preventing school drop out and for encouraging those who may have left school to return to education. When the project is completed, it is hoped to implement, on a nationwide basis, the strategies which will have been developed. While these will apply to the whole school going population, they will also be of benefit to achieving higher retention rates among traveller children.

I also draw the Deputy's attention to the fact that my Department is a partner with Pavee Point in an Integra project which is working to design a strategy for data gathering, data analysis and decision making so as to,inter alia, facilitiate access to education and training by travellers.

My Department's visiting teacher service continues to work with traveller families and school management to encourage the transfer of traveller children from primary to post primary level at the appropriate age.

It is estimated that there are 650 traveller children attending post primary schools and an estimated 175 traveller pupils attending junior education centres in the current school year.

I intend to keep the educational needs of traveller children under ongoing review as part of my commitment to ensuring that the goal of full participation by the children in question is realised.