Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 2 April 2019
170. Deputy Thomas Byrne asked the Minister for Education and Skills if data is available on the level of participation of members of the Traveller community in primary education; and the rate of participation in this regard. [15074/19]
View answerInformation on ethnic or cultural background, including Traveller ethnicity, is collected on the Primary Online Database (POD). As ethnicity is considered special category data under GDPR, it is collected on a consent-based basis.
In the 2016 Census of Ireland there were 8,142 members of the Traveller community recorded as being of potential primary school age (between 4 and 13)
In the 2015/2016 academic year, the year best suited for comparison, there were 8,207 members of the Traveller community enrolled in mainstream primary schools in September 2015.
This suggests near-universal participation by members of the Traveller community in primary education, although an exact rate of participation cannot be established due to the school enrolment figures being collected in September 2015 and the census being taken in April 2016.
