Vol. 523 No. 5
95 Mr. McCormack asked the Minister for Education and Science his views on resources and facilities available to teach Traveller children; the numbers being taught on a county basis; the plans he has to deal with early school leaving among traveller children; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21416/00]
It is the Government's policy that, as far as possible, Traveller children participate in mainstream education in age-appropriate classes and in an integrated setting.
To ensure that this policy translates into practice, my Department provides a range of supports. Capitation grants at enhanced rates are paid in respect of Traveller pupils in primary and post-primary schools. My Department sanctions resource teacher posts in primary schools where a minimum of 14 Traveller pupils have enrolled. Additional teaching hours are sanctioned in respect of Traveller children enrolled in post-primary schools.
My Department employs a national education officer for Travellers and a visiting teacher service for travellers. The visiting teachers provide advice and support to schools and to Traveller families. I have recently sanctioned the appointment of ten additional visiting teacher posts bringing to 40 the total number of posts in that service. A major focus of the work of the visiting teacher service is encouraging greater participation in education by Traveller children both in terms of achieving regular attendance and of retention in full-time education.
In addition, Traveller children will benefit from the eight to 15 year old early school leaver initiative and the Stay in School retention initiative. These are key programmes which have been put in place to help to prevent early school leaving.
The Education Welfare Act is designed to ensure that all children of compulsory school-going age attend school, or, if they do not attend school, that they receive at least a minimum education. The Act will help to address some of the underlying causes of truancy and help to identify children who may be at risk of developing school attendance problems.
My Department does not maintain statistics on the number of Traveller children taught on a county by county basis. The most recent figures available from the national education officer for travellers concern the school year 1999-00. There are some 537 in pre-schools; 5,600 in primary schools; 962 in post-primary schools; 120 in junior education centres; some 149 special schools for Travellers; and some 7,368 Traveller children in total.
