Seanad Éireann debate -
Thursday, 23 Mar 1995

Vol. 142 No. 10

Adjournment Matters - Rathkeale (County Limerick) Travellers Training Centre.

Ms Kelly

I thank the Minister of State, Deputy Currie, for coming to the House to listen to the request I am about to make. Rathkeale is the second largest town in County Limerick, the largest being Newcastle West. It is perhaps unique in that it has proportionately more travellers living there than any other town in Ireland. Some 35 per cent of the voting population of Rathkeale is of traveller stock. This poses enormous problems for the town. Travellers in Rathkeale are a trading group. They are extremely mobile and some of them are very wealthy. They have purchased a large proportion of the town's property. In one street formerly comprising 24 county council houses, 20 are now owned by the travelling community. Because there are so many and because they are so strong in their traditions there is a great gap between them and the settled community. Yet, considering the numbers of travellers, there is a great deal of harmony between them and the townspeople. Nevertheless, a huge gap exists between the two communities.

There are two senior training centres in County Limerick, one in Abbeyfeale and one in Newcastle West. Comprising 12 to 13 places, both are smaller than normal centres. The centre at Newcastle West is populated primarily by students from Rathkeale. The number of travellers living in Newcastle West and attending the senior training centre there has been declining over the years as many travellers choose to take up the educational opportunities offered by the town's two post primary schools. The need for the training centre in Newcastle West is, therefore, not as great now as it was when first established. But the need in Rathkeale is great because there is a high population of young travellers there.

Education needs to be promoted among these young travellers because the vast bulk of them do not continue on their education beyond primary school. There is a junior training centre with anything up to 16 pupils, predominantly girls. After completing the junior training centre, some of them go on to Newcastle West, where there is a good record of placing them in employment in local factories. But the number of those who go from the junior training centre in Rathkeale to the senior training centre in Newcastle West is quite small, and this take up is worrying.

A senior training centre in Rathkeale could be used outside normal hours as a community base for older travellers among whom there is a high degree of illiteracy. Literacy programmes are required, in addition to assisting women by providing a great knowledge of health care. In calling for a senior training centre for Rathkeale I am not thinking strictly of a training centre as such, but a resource centre for the travelling population. Such a centre would enable travellers to become more attuned to taking up employment within the town.

Those who do not trade and are not as well off are largely dependent on social welfare, but a training centre would help to break the gap that exists between those who are trading and those on social welfare. For the good of the travellers themselves, as well as the community, a senior training centre is urgently required in Rathkeale, County Limerick.

Minister of State at the Department of Education (Mr. Currie)

I thank Senator Kelly for her description of the circumstances in Rathkeale, which I found interesting and valuable. It will certainly add to my knowledge of the area. Throughout the country as a whole travellers are a relatively small but significant minority group. Their participation rates at all levels of the educational system are low for a democratic society. Significant progress has been made with regard to the education of traveller children over the past 20 years or so. The main aim for the children of the travelling community is the promotion of fully integrated participation at all levels of the educational system while retaining respect and value for their own distinctive culture.

Sizeable numbers of traveller children now attend pre-schools or primary schools. Achieving this level of attendance has been greatly helped by the visiting teacher service. The success of these teachers is reflected in improved school attendance in their particular areas. It is also evident in the goodwill that they enjoy in the traveller community and among teachers of traveller children. It is generally accepted that a very small number of travellers attend post primary schools. Many travellers appear to be reluctant to transfer their children to any form of post primary education. In this regard the Department of Education intends to appoint additional visiting teachers to encourage traveller children to continue in school at second level. Some traveller children attend junior training centres, which were established with the aim of providing a form of second level education for travellers which would be sufficiently attractive and relevant to make them want to continue attending school between the ages of 12 and 15.

The curriculum attempts to maintain a balance between academic and craftwork education, together with an emphasis on social and sporting activities. These centres continue to provide an essential service at second level. There is a junior training centre in Rathkeale. The Department approved an allocation of 1,500 teaching hours in County Limerick Vocational Education Committee for the 1994-95 school year which enabled the vocational education committee to employ teachers for that centre.

Second level education for travellers up to now has been largely the responsibility of the vocational sector. County Limerick Vocational Education Committee has made a significant contribution towards developing an education cum training programme for the travelling community. In addition to providing teachers for the junior school in Rathkeale, the committee is providing teachers for senior centres in Newcastle West and Abbeyfeale. The Department has approved a total of 7,500 teaching hours for the 1994-95 school year to enable the committee to employ teachers for these two centres.

The network of senior traveller training centres is jointly funded by FÁS and the vocational education committees. The existing centres cater for approximately 550 trainees. The annual cost is in excess of £5 million, of which my Department's contribution is approximately £2.9 million. The vocational education committees provide tuition for a 48 week programme and some overheads, with FÁS providing the training allowances for participants. These centres offer integrated education, vocational training and work experience for travellers, mainly in the 16 to 25 year old age group. In addition, they are centres where travellers can express and celebrate their rich culture.

With regard to the establishment of a senior travellers' training centre in Rathkeale, the Department has not to date received an application from County Limerick Vocational Education Committee for such a centre. However, it is understood that a formal application is being prepared and as soon as the application is received the matter will be given due consideration in consultation with FÁS, and the vocational education committee will be advised of the decision in due course. I am quite sure that the comments made here today by the Senator will be of great use in enabling a decision to be made.