Written Answers. - Task Force on Travellers.
Austin Deasy
Ceist:
28
Mr. Deasy
asked the
Minister for Equality and Law Reform
his views on the report of the task force on travellers; and whether the report is a sufficient response to the problems and inequalities confronting these people.
[15654/95]
Liz O'Donnell
Ceist:
33
Ms O'Donnell
asked the
Minister for Equality and Law Reform
the progress, if any, that has been made in implementing the report of the Task Force on Travellers; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[18226/95]
Noel Dempsey
Ceist:
40
Mr. Dempsey
asked the
Minister for Equality and Law Reform
the progress, if any, which has been made in implementing the recommendations of the Task Force for Travellers.
[16008/95]
Helen Keogh
Ceist:
61
Ms Keogh
asked the
Minister for Equality and Law Reform
the steps, if any, that have been initiated to implement recommendations of the task force on travellers; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[15679/95]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 28, 33, 40 and 61 together.
The report of the Task Force on the Travelling Community which had a brief to examine, advise and make recommendations on the needs of travellers and on Government policies generally in relation to the travelling community, was presented to me by the task force on 20 July 1995. I thank the members of the task force for the work undertaken by them.
The report provides a comprehensive analysis of the needs of the travelling community and makes recommendations in relation to three principal areas, namely; key issues of relevance to travellers including accommodation, access to health services, education and training provision and economic development and employment including the co-ordination of approaches by the relevant statutory agencies whose services impact on members of the travelling community; relationships between travellers and `settled' people; the experience of travellers with a particular focus on culture, discrimination, traveller women and travellers with a disability.
As the report impacts on a wide range of policy areas which are the responsibility of a number of Ministers, the Government has established an interdepartmental working group of officials to consider the implementation of the report, including in particular, the costs involved. The Government will determine what action is called for in relation to the recommendations contained in the task force's report as soon as the report of the working group is available.
As the Deputies will be aware, the task force published an interim progress report in January, 1994. When I received that report, I examined it to see to what extent its recommendations could be implemented immediately pending receipt of the final report of the task force.
In that connection, I consulted the Minister for Education and also the former Minister of State at the Department of the Environment, with responsibility for housing, to identify the recommendations on which progress could be made. Since these consultations, progress has been made in relation to a number of recommendations in the interim progress report.
On 18 March, 1994 the former Minister of State at the Department of the Environment announced that the special grant for travellers purchasing their first house for their own occupation had been increased from £1,500 to £3,000 and in addition, with effect from this year, funding for new group housing schemes for travellers will be provided by the Department of the Environment separately from the general local authority housing allocation.
I understand from the Minister for Education that provision for children with special needs is being considered in the context of the report of the Special Education Review Committee, published in 1993, and, in the specific case of traveller children, the interim progress report of the task force.
With regard to the specific recommendations concerning education provision for travellers, contained in the interim report, I understand that the following developments have taken place: (i) In April, 1994, the Minister for Education published guidelines entitled "The Education of Traveller Children in National Schools — Guidelines". (ii) The capitation grant for traveller children attending national schools was increased from £76.20 in 1993 to £130 in 1994 and to £137 with effect from September, 1995, for those children under 12 years and from £316 in 1994 to £331 in 1995 for children over 12 years of age. (iii) A school record system for traveller children is now being operated on a pilot basis by the visiting teacher service. (iv) The pupil teacher ratio for traveller children at primary level, has been reduced by one unit from 15:1 to 14:1 for special schools and classes.
With regard to the recommendations in the final report of the task force in the area of discrimination, I can confirm that I am committed to taking initiatives to end discrimination against members of the travelling community and to ensure that they are provided with opportunities for equal participation in all aspects of Irish society.
The preparation of employment equality and the equal status legislation is proceeding. At present, I envisage that, when it has been approved by the Government, the Employment Equality Bill would be published early in 1996. The drafting of the Equal Status Bill, which contains some interrelated provisions, would then be completed and following Government approval, would be published some time later. The proposed legislation will provide protection generally against discrimination, including discrimination on grounds of membership of the travelling community.
