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Educational Disadvantage

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 26 November 2013

Tuesday, 26 November 2013

Questions (215)

Michael Healy-Rae

Question:

215. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Education and Skills the position regarding cuts of 90% to education for the Traveller community; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50181/13]

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Written answers

The principle of inclusion is at the core of the Report and Recommendations for a Traveller Education Strategy published in 2006 and, accordingly, the focus of both current and future provision is on the development of a more inclusive school environment. This is undertaken 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 allocated on the basis of identified individual educational need rather than that of ethnic or cultural background.

Travellers now avail of the following mainstream resources, similar to all other children:

- Free Pre-school Year

- School transport

- Classroom Teacher Allocation at Primary and Post-Primary level

- Learning Resource Teachers at Primary and Post-Primary Level in the case of identified special educational need

- Further and adult Education.

The cuts to which the Deputy refers are referenced in the recent report published by Pavee Point 'Travelling with Austerity' and refers to reduction in funding for segregated Traveller-specific programmes. However, no corresponding reference is made to the fact that some of this funding has been redeployed to accommodate Travellers in mainstream programmes. Nor does the Report take account of overall resources within the education system which are also availed of by Traveller children. The Traveller Education Advisory and Consultative Forum, which has responsibility for overseeing the implementation of the recommendations contained in the Strategy is currently working to a thematic approach to address the core issues of attendance, attainment, and retention of young Travellers in education. Membership of the Forum includes Traveller representative groups and representatives of the education partners and of relevant policy areas of the Department of Education and Skills.

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