The Minister was speaking following her recent meeting with the Chairpersons of the Taskforce on Traveller Education, Dr Robbie McVeigh and Catherine Joyce.
The ‘Taskforce on Traveller Education’ has been tasked with reviewing the educational needs of children from the Traveller community and the delivery of services to them. The Taskforce is also tasked with assisting the Department to develop an action plan in which its recommendations will improve educational access, attainment and outcomes for Traveller children in pre-school, primary, post-primary and youth provision.
The review group is being jointly chaired by Dr Robbie McVeigh and Catherine Joyce, Traveller activist and manager of Blanchardstown Traveller Development Group and chairperson of the Irish Traveller Movement.
Speaking after meeting the Chairpersons, the Education Minister said: “For too long, children and young people from the Traveller community have been the invisible children of the education system.
“Children from the Traveller community should have the same rights and opportunities as children from the settled community. This review will evaluate the current education provision available and identify what needs to be done to promote equality across the board in education.
“I have discussed with Dr McVeigh and Catherine Joyce the Terms of Reference of the group and the proposal to develop an action plan. Both are aware of the situation facing the Traveller community and are aware of the issues that need to be addressed. They have my full confidence and support in evaluating the needs of our Traveller children and I look forward to receiving the action plan once it is completed.”
Dr Mc Veigh added; “The Stephen Lawrence Inquiry and MacPherson Report provided government with a radical new mechanism for measuring and transforming its performance vis-à-vis racism and inequality. Recognition of ‘institutional racism’ as a ‘collective failure’ of an organisation to provide an appropriate and professional service to people because of their colour, culture or ethnic origin allows us to move away from any simplistic blaming of individuals for ethnic inequality. There is no question that there has been a ‘collective failure’ by the educational system to provide an appropriate service to Traveller children. This new initiative offers a unique opportunity to begin to put that right.”
Catherine Joyce said; “This is a unique opportunity for this government to make a huge difference to the life chances of young Travellers through education. This education has to be on a par with the non- Traveller communitywhilst respecting the cultural difference of Travellers and ensuring that the outcomes ensure that Travellers will have the same life choices and opportunities as their peers."
Notes to Editors
- Media queries, contact the Department of Education Press Office on 028 9127 9207. Out of office hours please contact the Duty Press Officer via pager number 07699 715 440 and your call will be returned.
- Dr Robbie McVeigh is a Derry-based human rights activist and researcher on racism and sectarianism, equality and human rights. His publications include: Travellers, Refugees and Racism in Tallaght (1998), A Place of Welcome? Refugees and Asylum Seekers in NI (2002), Irish Travellers and Nomadism (2004); co-editor, with Ronit Lentin, of Racism and Anti-racism in Ireland (2002). Dr McVeigh has been appointed spokesperson for the Rosemary Nelson Campaign. He has previously lectured in Sociology at Queen’s University Belfast and been employed as a Researcher with the Committee on the Administration of Justice (CAJ).
- Kathleen Joyce is an Irish Traveller and has been a member of the Irish Travellers human rights movement for over 20 years. In 1991 she won Person of the Year award for her contribution to progressing Traveller human, social and cultural rights. She is manager of the Blanchardstown Traveller Development Group, a local Traveller organisation and for a number of years she was co-ordinator of the Irish Traveller Movement and is currently its Chairperson. She represents Traveller issues at a local level through her involvement in a range of different groups including the Local Traveller Accommodation Consultative Committee, Local Drugs Task Force, Blanchardstown Area Partnership to mention a few. At a national level she represents the Irish Traveller Movement on the National Traveller Monitoring Committee and for a number of years was an active member of the National Traveller Accommodation consultative Committee and the Task force on Travellers. She has also represented Irish Travellers ata number of international conferences. She was part of the Irish Government delegation to the World Conference on Racism and Inter-culturalism in South Africa and also attended the International Conference on Social Development in Copenhagen, the World Conference on Youth Affairs in Tasmania and Re-imagining Ireland in Richmond Virginia, USA.
- For photographs of the Minister with the Chairpersons or separate pictures of the Chairpersons please contact the Department of Education Press Office on 028 9127 9207.
Taskforce on Traveller Education
Terms of Reference
As agreed by joint chairs on 29 September 2008
- to review the educational needs of Traveller children and the current delivery of services;
- to consider best practice models;
- to actively consult with members of the Traveller community in relation to the work of the Taskforce;
- to make recommendations to improve educational access, attainment and outcomes for Traveller children in pre-school, primary, post-primary and youth provision;
- to assist the Department to develop an agreed action plan for both the statutory and non-statutory sector to see how together improved educational outcomes can be achieved by all Traveller children;
- to monitor the action plan over a two year period on a six monthly basis;
- to inform the National Traveller Monitoring and Advisory Committee in the south of Ireland; and
- to ensure that recommendations for improvements are underpinned by the Convention on the Rights of the child* (UNCRC) and other relevant equality and human rights legislation.
Article 2: Protection against discrimination
Article 12: right to have a voice
Article 28 :education on the basis of equal opportunity
Article 29 : education with respect for child’s parents, cultural identity, language and values.
