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Third Level Admissions

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 14 July 2020

Tuesday, 14 July 2020

Questions (588)

Patrick Costello

Question:

588. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Education and Skills the steps she will take to improve access to higher education for members of the Traveller community. [15184/20]

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Written answers

Equity of access to higher education is a national priority for the Department and indeed, the Government. The third National Access Plan for Equity of Access to Higher Education (2015-2021) (NAP) sets out the Departments current strategy to address underrepresentation in higher education by groups identified in the plan. The NAP identifies Irish Travellers as one of the target groups that are currently being under-represented in higher education. A progress review of NAP published in 2018 which extended the lifetime of the current plan to 2021, showed that while increases are evident in participation in Irish Travellers, there remains a significant challenge in achieving the target in respect of the Traveller target group. Even though the realisation of targets is proving difficult, evidence has shown that the number of Irish Travellers accessing higher education has increased from 35 (2012/2013) to 61 (2017/2018); a 74% increase since the commencement of this NAP.

Various initiatives under the strands of The Programme for Access to Higher Education (PATH) funding aimed at increasing Traveller participation will assist in the realisation of the target and enhance understanding of the barriers that exist in respect of access to higher education by Traveller students. All PATH initiatives will support increased participation by Travellers however there are some dedicated entirely to this target group. This includes Marino Institute of Education TOBAR project) (PATH1): Travellers Accessing Initial Teacher Education. This project focuses on targeting increased Traveller participation in Initial Teacher Education at primary level through engagement with Traveller community groups and targeted post primary schools, the provision of direct entry places and continuous support for Travellers who have been identified as aspiring to become a primary school teacher. There are two strands, B.Ed. Route and a direct entry (PME) and Continuous support. 7 Traveller students registered on the Tobar programme as on 30 September 2019. Traveller Awareness Training has been rolled out in some PME courses. Eight School workshops and specific meetings with 2—25 students and families.

Under PATH 2, 10 Irish Travellers have received 1916 Bursaries in the 2017/2018 academic year and a further 13 Travellers received a 1916 Bursary in 2018/19. 2019/2020 figures are not confirmed at this stage however indications are that this figure has further increased.

PATH 3 supports the development of regional clusters of HEIs to build capacity to support a regional approach to Access policy and initiatives. A number of specific Traveller projects are being supported – including the Travellers in Education project led by the South Cluster of HEIs which is promoting a whole-school approach to addressing Traveller participation needs.

The PATH fund was confirmed as a permanent fund in 2020 and has a current investment envelope of €30.9 million over the period 2016 to 2022, across the three strands.

While it is hoped that the numerous initiatives under the strands of The Programme for Access to Higher Education (PATH) funding aimed at increasing Traveller participation will assist in the realisation of the target and enhance understanding of the barriers that exist in respect of access to higher education by Traveller students, it was considered that a specific action plan would bring a particular focus of attention on the on-going issue of underrepresentation of Travellers in HE.

The Action Plan for Traveller Participation in Higher Education 2019-2021 was published in November 2019. The overall objective of the Plan is to advance Traveller participation in higher education within the context of approaches on retention and transition of Travellers across the education spectrum. The Department is working closely with the HEA, Traveller Groups and other implementation partners to ensure roll-out of the Actions.

The Department is currently engaged in ongoing consultation with Traveller representative groups since the commencement of the COVID-19 pandemic. The Department took part in a Forum on Traveller Transfers into Tertiary Education organised by Pavee Point and the National Travellers Women Forum on 27th May, 2020 and a subsequent round table discussion with access offices in Higher Education Institutions which considered the Forum Report on Monday, 29 June 2020.

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