I wish to assure the Deputy that I am committed to implementing initiatives to improve Traveller retention, participation and achievement in the Education System.
The policy of my Department in relation to Traveller education is underpinned by the National Traveller and Roma Integration Strategy (NTRIS) 2017 – 2021 which was developed in consultation with relevant stakeholders including Traveller representative groups. There are a number of actions under NTRIS aimed at improving traveller participation and engagement in schools nationwide. My Department is engaging with the Department of Justice and Equality and Tusla Educational Welfare Services in progressing a pilot programme which, if successful, will inform the development of a sustainable programme to address the gap in educational outcomes for children and young people from the Travelling and Roma communities in other regions including Limerick.
A key objective of Traveller education policy in recent years has been the phasing out of segregated Traveller provision and the inclusion of Traveller children and young people in mainstream education. Funding for segregated Traveller provision has been incorporated into overall school and other funding streams in order to provide supports for Traveller pupils in mainstream schools.
As the Deputy may be aware, DEIS Plan 2017 which was launched by my Department in June 2017 includes a number of specific actions to improve educational outcomes for Traveller children and young people in the education system.
The provision of learning support following the removal of the Resource Teachers for Travellers (RTT) posts meant that Primary schools were allocated additional teaching resources to support children who require additional learning support provision through the General Allocation Model (GAM). Post-primary students, formerly supported by RTT hours, access the learning support service.
A number of schools in the Delivering Equality of Opportunity in Schools (DEIS) scheme had smaller class sizes as a result of enhanced Pupil Teacher Ratios. Up until 2011 Traveller pupils attending a DEIS school, but who were supported by an RTT, were not counted as part of the valid enrolment for the implementation of the enhanced pupil teacher ratios. When the Traveller pupils were no longer supported by RTTs, the compensatory measure proposed for DEIS schools was to apply the DEIS Band 1 pupil teacher ratios to include Traveller pupils, for the purposes of determining the level of mainstream teaching staff in the relevant DEIS schools. There is one post primary school with a Learning Support post in Limerick and there are 5 alleviation posts in Limerick.
