More Traveller pupils in second level

THE numbers of Traveller children making it to second-level education has more than doubled in six years but the vast majority still never make it to the Leaving Certificate.

Figures revealed by Education Minister Batt O’Keeffe show that 2,317 students from the Traveller community were enrolled at second level in 2006, the latest year for which figures are available — up from 1,165 in 2000.

There were 7,771 Traveller children in the country’s primary schools two years ago, twice the number 20 years ago, with support from more than 500 resource teachers and other back-up services.