Ruane - "Traveller Children Must Enjoy Equality In Education"

Principals, teachers, traveller parents and traveller support groups from across Ireland heard keynote speeches from Caitríona Ruane, Education Minister, Sean Haughey T.D. the Minister of State at the Department of Education and Science in the South of Ireland and Dr Robbie McVeigh, Joint Chairperson of the Taskforce for Traveller Education.

Traveller children from local schools were given the opportunity to make presentations about their culture and some of the issues they face.

Speaking after the conference Minister Ruane said: "Children and young people from the traveller community experience some of the worst educational outcomes of any minority ethnic group. Children from the traveller community face a range of barriers to education including racism in our society therefore many leave school before the age of 16 with no formal qualifications and poor literacy and numeracy skills.

"We must all work together to ensure traveller communities have educational opportunities based on their needs."