Written Answers. - Travelling Community.
Richard Bruton
Question:
241
Mr. R. Bruton
asked the
Minister for Education and Science
if he has developed an integrated education plan for the development of education participation among over 100 traveller families at Cara Park and Belcamp in Coolock, Dublin 5; his views on the provision of a care assistant for the early start programme; the arrangement of remedial education in an integrated setting and the reduction of the age of participation in the locally based community training workshop; and if he will have arrangements made for an area education plan to be developed for travellers.
[15897/99]
The educational infrastructure in place in the area referred to by the Deputy is working very satisfactorily.
A visiting teacher for travellers works in the area and is in almost daily contact with the traveller parents to encourage and support them to enrol their children in schools and also to ensure that the children attend school on a regular basis.
There are two primary schools in the area which cater for approximately 105 traveller pupils. In September 1999 the two schools referred to will have a total of seven resource teachers for travellers working with the traveller pupils. Such resource teacher posts are allocated to schools on the basis that the traveller pupils are taught in an integrated setting, either within their classroom with the resource teacher working with their class teacher or withdrawn in groups for intensive tuition according to their ages and perceived needs by the resource teacher. I understand that the traveller children are fully integrated into the life of both schools, they are placed in classes appropriate to their age, and are making good progress.
In addition there are two home school community liaison teachers and three remedial teachers working in the schools. The practice in the schools is that all the teachers catering for special needs and educational disadvantage function as a team and work as much as possible to provide a first class integrated and intercultural education for all children.
There is also a pre-school for traveller children operating in the area which caters for approximately 15 children. Under present arrangements schools included in the early start pre-school scheme have the service of a child care assistant. My Department grant-aids 98 per cent of the approved tuition cost for traveller pre-schools for up to a maximum of three hours per day. Special transport, if such transport is necessary, is also grant-aided at the rate of 98 per cent.
The post-primary school in the area supports the integrated education of the traveller pupils when they leave the primary school. There is also a special school for traveller pupils in the age range 12 to 15 years operating in the area in question.
The Cara Park senior traveller training centre in Belcamp provides a programme of integrated general education, vocational training and work experience for young and adult traveller early school leavers aged 16 upwards. Some 30 places are provided in the centre. Responsibility for the centre transferred to the education sector from FÁS with effect from 6 April 1998. The number of places provided in the centre was increased, the programme duration extended to two years, and new guidance, counselling, psychological and child care supports were approved for the programme. In order to optimise participation of adults, particularly parents, in the centre, the upper age limit on eligibility for the programme was removed in order to influence educational participation levels in the next generation. However, I have no plans to lower the age limit for entry to the centre given the impact this could have on retention of traveller children within the school system.
The provision of educational support for the children of the travelling community in the area of north Dublin is constantly under review. Discussions are held on a regular basis with the parents of the children and with the principals of the schools to ensure that the best practice pertains and that there are adequate resources available to meet the challenges presented.
