Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 2 April 2019
169. Deputy Thomas Byrne asked the Minister for Education and Skills the reason the participation and retention rates of Travellers in the education system have worsened compared to members of the settled community. [15073/19]
View answerCensus 2016 revealed there is a significant gap between educational attainment of Travellers and that of the general population. However, it is encouraging to note that in 2016, 167 Travellers held a third-level qualification, almost double the 2011 figure of 89.
In 2015 when the National Access Plan for Equity of Access to Higher Education was published 35 Traveller students were participating in Higher Level. The March 2019 figure for current Traveller participation in Higher Level is 61, representing very significant progress in this area.
We need to continue to build on the progress achieved thus far until the educational attainment of Traveller students has reached parity with the general population.
This Government is committed to implementing initiatives to improve Traveller attendance, retention, participation and attainment in the education system.
This is reflected in a number of key policies and initiatives, including:-
- The National Traveller and Roma Inclusion Strategy (NTRIS),
- DEIS Plan 2017, the national plan for educational inclusion
- The National Access Plan for Equity of Access to Higher Education (NAP), to ensure that the student body entering, participating in and completing higher education at all levels reflects the diversity and social mix of Ireland’s population.
- Literacy and Numeracy and Learning for Life, the national strategy to improve literacy and numeracy standards in children and young people in the education system.
