Written Answers. - Parliamentary Debates - Houses of the Oireachtas

Questions— 14 February 2012. Written Answers
The relevant documents are available to read at www.hea.ie.
Question No. 239 answered with Question No. 190.
Ministerial Correspondence
240. Deputy Pat Breen asked the Minister for Education and Skills when an application will
be processed in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Clare; and if he will make a
statement on the matter. [8033/12]
Minister for Education and Skills (Deputy Ruairí Quinn): I will arrange for a reply to issue
direct to the Deputy in relation to the case that he has referred to.
Literacy Levels
241. Deputy Mary Mitchell O’Connor asked the Minister for Education and Skills the action
being taken to address the findings of Thomas Hammerberg, Commissioner for Human Rights
of the Council of Europe, who estimated on the 15 of September 2011 that 30% of Roma
children in Ireland attend school and that 95% of Roma women in Ireland cannot read or write
in any language; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8144/12]
Minister for Education and Skills (Deputy Ruairí Quinn): All children are entitled to preschool,
primary and post-primary education, irrespective of nationality or ethnicity. All children
are, in fact, required to attend from age 6-16 years. A student’s nationality is noted at primary
and post-primary schools. Whether a student from Romania or Hungary etc. is a member of
the Roma community is not noted.
If a student has identified educational needs, such as gaining proficiency in the language of
instruction or difficulties with literacy or numeracy, then assistance is provided based on the
student’s educational needs and not on their cultural background. If a student has a poor
attendance record, a significant amount of data is collected by the school about the student
and provided to the NEWB but data on their ethnicity is not recorded.
The Intercultural Education Strategy was launched in 2010. Amongst its ten key components
are “mainstreaming of education provision” and “knowledge of the language of instruction”.
English as a Second Language (ESOL) classes are provided free of charge by Vocational Education
Committees (VECs) as part of adult literacy provision, based on local demand, and are
open to all adults (of the 54,000 adult literacy participants in 2010, some 11,500 were ESOL
participants). There have been some initiatives organised specifically for Roma women.
Into the future, the approach to provision of further education programmes will continue to
be one that is inclusive, mainstreamed and available to all based on identified educational need,
irrespective of nationality or ethnicity.
Question No. 242 answered with Question No. 214.
Question No. 243 answered with Question No. 190.
FÁS Training Programmes
244. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Education and Skills if a person (details
supplied) will be eligible to complete a FÁS plumbing apprenticeship under the scheme for
redundant apprentices and when the funding will be available for them to do so. [8185/12]
Minister for Education and Skills (Deputy Ruairí Quinn): The Redundant Apprentice Placement
Scheme 2012 (RAPS) will provide opportunities for redundant apprentices to complete
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