Key Issues affecting the Traveller Community committee resumes hearings on education

Deputy Jan O’Sullivan, representatives from the Marino Institute of Education, and Trinity College Dublin PhD student, Mr. Patrick McDonagh, will make presentations to TDs and Senators.

Speaking before the meeting, Committee Chair Senator Colette Kelleher said: “We look forward to hearing from our delegates as we continue our examination on Travellers access to education at all levels. Education is an issue of key importance to Travellers though many experience, many barriers in getting access to it from primary school through to second level. Travellers value education and it is a real misconception to think otherwise.

“Yet, for example, Traveller children are 50 times more likely than children from the general population to leave school without completing the Leaving Certificate examination and Traveller children are more likely to have timetables with reduced hours. As a Committee we are exploring and will be making recommendations on how the barriers experienced by Travellers can be removed.”

View the committee proceedings live.