Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 21 May 2013
353. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Education and Skills his views on correspondence (details supplied) regarding unemployment in the Traveller population; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24254/13]
View answerUnemployment in the Traveller community is a matter for my colleague, the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation.
With regard to formal education qualifications among the Traveller community, this is addressed in the policy document on Traveller education - the Report and Recommendations for a Traveller Education Strategy. The focus of both current and future provision is on the development of a more inclusive school environment through the whole school planning process, teaching practice, admissions policies, codes of behaviour and whole school evaluation. In keeping with this principle, additional resources provided in the education system are now allocated on the basis of individual educational need rather than that of ethnic or cultural background.
Recorded Traveller participation rates in education in recent years show an increase. In the 2004/05 school year, approximately 1,850 Traveller pupils aged between thirteen and eighteen (inclusive) were recorded as enrolled in post-primary schools and this increased to 2,698 in 2011/12 school year.
The majority of Traveller students transfer from primary to post-primary education. Participation rates in the junior cycle have steadily improved from 1,598 Traveller students recorded in 2004/05 to 1,898 in the 2011/12 school year. The number of Travellers progressing to senior cycle has consistently improved in recent years from 260 in 2004/05 to 800 in 2011/12. In 2012, 579 Travellers were enrolled on the VEC Youthreach programme and 672 Travellers participated in the Back to Education Initiative (BTEI). The estimated number of Travellers attending third level is 3% compared to 53% of the general population. The ‘Equal Access’ survey of the ethnic and cultural backgrounds of entrants to higher education in 2010/11 indicates that 31 who identified as Travellers attended third level compared to 24 in 2008/09. This survey occurs on a voluntary and confidential basis as part of the annual registration process of twenty-seven higher education institutions and is co-ordinated by the HEA. As this survey is based on the principle of self - identification, the actual number of Travellers in third level could be higher.
This Government, through its various interventions in the education sector, is committed to improved retention rates, better learning experiences and improved outcomes for all young people, including young people who are members of the Travelling community.
