An additional 10 teachers have been allocated to the visiting teacher service for Traveller children, the Minister for Education, Dr Woods, announced yesterday. The move raises to 40 the number of teachers participating in the project. The Minister cited praise for the service contained in a recent report by the Task Force on the Travelling Community.
Visiting teachers arrange placement for Traveller children at pre-school, primary and post-primary level. The service is overseen by the National Education Office for Travellers. An estimated 4,300 Traveller children currently attend primary school. Some 1,500 attend second level.