The Irish Traveller Movement recommends that a liaison committee involving traveller organisations be established with the Department of Education as a forum for continuing deliberations on traveller education policy.
The recommendation, in a report entitled Travellers and Post- Primary Education, was presented to a two-day conference in Limerick at the weekend, attended by traveller representatives, parents' councils, educational professionals and trade union representatives.
The report, prepared by the Irish Traveller Movement (ITM), also recommends that the Department make financial and other support available for young travellers at post-primary level similar to those at primary level.
Teachers and school managements at initial training and in-service training need input on traveller and other minority cultures.
Ms Rosalee McDonagh, chairwoman of ITM, which organised the conference attended by 170 delegates, called on the Minister for Education, Mr Martin, to set up the special committee within his Department in partnership with the travelling community to oversee a national policy for traveller education.
She urged the Minister to "honour the commitment of the Partnership 2000 agreement" and establish the special committee.
Mr Fintan Farrell, co-ordinator of ITM, said that since 1995 there had been significant progress in the numbers of travellers attending post-primary education, particularly in rural areas, but the situation required immediate attention.
The ITM is to meet Mr Martin on March 4th to discuss the task force report.
The Catholic Bishop of Limerick, Dr Donal Murray, told the conference that the ITM and the organisations which it represented had to spend a great deal of time and energy drawing attention to the ways in which Irish society still did not value travellers and their culture.