The report and recommendations for a Traveller education strategy, published in 2006, recommended that the principle of inclusion be the guiding principle and that segregated provision for Travellers should be either reduced or eliminated. In line with this strategy a number of Traveller-specific programmes have been phased out. The reference to an 86.6% reduction in the recent report published by Pavee Point, Travelling with Austerity, refers to the reduction in funding for segregated Traveller-specific programmes, some of the funding for which has been redeployed to mainstream programmes in line with the principle of inclusion. This policy has proved to be successful in lifting educational attainment levels in the Traveller community, with the number of Traveller children enrolled in post-primary school rising by 46% in the seven years to 2011-2012 and a total of approximately 12,000 self-identified Travellers in mainstream primary and post-primary education.
Department of Education & Skills Traveller Specific Funding allocated 2008 to 2012 and 2013 Projections
Enrolement/Participant in DES funded Schools/Programmes: Total Identified Travellers*
Year
|
School
|
Enrolment
|
Year
|
FE Sector
|
Participants
|
|
2011/12
|
Primary
|
8,086
|
2011
|
Youthreach
|
578
|
|
2011/12
|
Post-Primary
|
2,731
|
2011
|
BTEI
|
733
|
|
|
Total School Enrolment
|
10,817
|
|
Total FE Programme Enrolment
|
1,311
|
12,128
|
*Travellers are self-identified therefore the total number of Travellers availing of services may not be included in the pupil/participant data shown. The allocation estimates for Traveller Specific provision shown is additional to overall mainstream funding which provides for education of all system users including Travellers
Table of Funding detailing Additional Specific Provision for Traveller Education
Title of Provision: Traveller Specific Funding
|
2008
|
2009
|
2010
|
2011
|
Programme Expenditure:
|
|
|
|
|
Pre School
|
|
|
|
|
- Capital
|
|
|
|
|
Equipment Grant for Traveller Pre-Schools
|
€34,600
|
€31,095
|
€8,210
|
€2,000
|
- Current
|
|
|
|
|
- Pay
|
€434,320
|
€730,157
|
€618,677
|
€251,179.14
|
Teaching Resources Primary /Post-Primary
|
|
|
|
|
- Current
|
|
|
|
|
- Pay
|
|
|
|
|
Primary Teaching Resources
|
€31,000,000
|
€32,000,000
|
€29,220,000
|
€21,940,000
|
Visiting Teachers for Travellers - Pay
|
€2,542,000
|
€2,624,000
|
€2,468,000
|
€1,645,333
|
- Non-Pay
|
|
€333,046
|
€248,737
|
€198,864.02
|
Post Primary Teaching Resources
|
€10,700,000
|
€13,100,000
|
€14,208,000
|
€9,879,040
|
Funding Resources Primary /Post-Primary
|
|
|
|
|
- Non-Pay
|
|
|
|
|
Enhanced Capitation Primary
|
€1,200,000.00
|
€780,000
|
€530,000
|
€537,768
|
Enhanced Capitation Post-Primary
|
€1,283,562.00
|
€666,760
|
€670,000
|
€574,056
|
Junior Education Centres (VECs) —
|
|
|
|
|
- Current
|
|
|
|
|
- Pay
|
€624,640
|
€621,000
|
€653,920
|
€722,400
|
- Grant
|
€12,000
|
€12,000
|
€12,000
|
€12,000
|
Senior Traveller Training Centres
|
|
|
|
|
Pay
|
€16,002,003
|
€17,256,436
|
€15,259,918
|
€12,285,000
|
Non pay
|
€3,431,073
|
€2,714,684
|
€2,379,425
|
€1,989,000
|
Learner Allowances
|
€6,857,140
|
€6,671,794
|
€6,174,780
|
€4,639,000
|
STTC National Co-ordinator Office
|
€217,000
|
€199,000
|
€190,728
|
€189,170
|
General Traveller Training Centre also know as the Parish of the Travelling People, Cabra
|
|
|
|
|
VEC Teaching Resources
|
€198,000.00
|
€198,000.00
|
€192,000.00
|
€192,000.00
|
School Transport
|
|
|
|
|
- Current
|
€2,000,000
|
€1,800,000
|
€1,200,000
|
€23,477.44
|
TOTAL GROSS PROGRAMME EXPENDITURE
|
€76,536,338
|
€79,737,972
|
€74,034,395
|
€55,080,288
|
Explanatory Notes - Table of DES - Allocated Traveller Specific Funding 2008 to 2012 incl 2013 Projections
1 Preschool
Transport costs for preschool - €11,714.92 in 2012
Implemented in accordance with Chapter Five of Report and Recommendations for A Traveller Education Strategy - change to an inclusive, integrated service
The Free Preschool Year in Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) scheme is funded through the Department of Health and Children (OMCYA) Vote.
2 Teaching Resources Primary /Post-Primary (2012/13)
Primary Teaching Resources 121 Alleviation posts x €60,000 = €7,260,000
Post Primary Teaching Resources 20 Alleviation posts x €64,000 = €1,280,000
Visiting Teachers for Travellers 2011 €1,645,333 (39 VTT's x €60,000 & 2 VTT's x 64,000 for 8 months)
Salary costs being used for 2012 - based on an average salary incl ER PRSI - Primary €60,000 and for Post Primary €64,000
In accordance with Chapter Six - Primary & Chapter Seven - Post primary - provision of education to Travellers based on need rather than identity
The decision to remove the VTST service was one of a range of measures included in the National Recovery Plan 2011 to 2014
Of the 488 resource posts at primary, 265.5 posts were retained in the system and allocated to include Travellers in the valid enrolment for the purposes of allocating additional teaching resources to implement more favourable class sizes in DEIS Band 1 schools and to include Traveller pupils in the revised General Allocation Model for higher incidence special educational needs in all primary schools with Travellers.
3 Funding Resources Primary /Post-Primary: Enhanced Capitation for Travellers - per capita rates reduced by 5% in Budget 2011 in line with overall per capita funding reduction.
Reduction in Capitation Funding was one of the measures adopted in 2011 to achieve the saving required under the National Recovery Programme 2011-2014
4 Junior Education Centres (VEC's)
Junior Education Centres (Funded under VEC's) Pay Allocation
- St Anthony's Athlone 2487 hours/735 = 3.38 wte (PP salary incl ER PRSI €64,000 x 3.38)
- St Joseph's Milltown 1,470 hours /735 = 2 wte (PP salary incl ER PRSI €64,000 x 2.00)
- St Thomas', Clonshaugh 1,681 hours/735 = 2.28 wte (PP salary incl ER PRSI €64,000 x 2.28)
In accordance with the Report and Recommendations for a Traveller Education Strategy, education provision based on educational need and not identity, changing to inclusive, integrated provision.
(The Co-operation hours annual cycle is similar to an ordinary second level school's annual cycle,and relate to 2012/13 year. Therefore €64,000 used to calculate total pay cost)
5 Senior Traveller Training Centres: Implemented in accordance with Chapter 8 of the Report and Recommendations for a Traveller Education Strategy - Bring Travellers into mainstream further education provision.
The phasing out of segregated provision for Travellers in Senior Traveller Training Centres on foot of recommendation of the STTC Value for Money Review was completed at the end of June 2012.
6 General Traveller Training Centre - also known as the Parish of the Travelling People, Cabra 2012/13 Allocation 2,205 hours/735 = 3.00 WTE teachers (PP salary incl ER PRSI €64,000 x 3) *Application for Allocation of hours for 2013 not yet made.
7 Transport
Implemented in accordance with Chapter 6 & 7, - provide school transport for Traveller pupils on the same conditions as for settled pupils. From September 2011 the distance and general eligibility applies to all children. Given that the Traveller specific transport has been phased out and Traveller children are using mainstream transport it is not envisaged that there will be any significant expenditure on Traveller transport in 2013.