asked the Minister for Education if he will make a comprehensive statement on the educational facilities available for itinerant children in the over 12 age group and if the example set in some parts of the country, whereby training centres and VEC classes have been organised to provide facilities, will be followed especially in the North Dublin area.

A number of travelling children are enrolled in second-level schools and are making reasonable progress. The number is expected to increase as the effect of the special provisions made at primary school level in the context of the report of the Commission on Itinerancy come to full fruition.

In general, my Department are currently engaged in receiving policies in respect of special education for children who can be catered for in ordinary post-primary schools, provided special facilities and services can be made available.

Within this review, the needs of the children of travelling people of this age range are also being considered. It is my policy to cater as far as possible for the needs of these within the framework of the ordinary school system and to resort to the establishment of special schools only where the alternative would not appear practicable. This does not, however, exclude the establishment of special classes. My Department will, therefore, be willing to entertain proposals from vocational education committees and other school authorities with regard to meeting the educational needs of travelling children in the 12-15 age range, and to consider such proposals within the framework of special educational provision.

The question of training centres for teenage travellers is a wider matter in so far as it involves both vocational education committees, which have responsibility for continuation and technical education and An Chomhairle Oiliúna (AnCO) which has wider responsibilities in training for industrial occupations.

At present, training facilities for young travellers either exist or are at an advanced planning stage in some 15 centres throughout the country. I understand that there is one such centre in Coolock in North County Dublin which is being assisted by the County Dublin Vocational Education Committee, and plans are being examined to extend the work of that centre.

I should mention that the majority of these centres have been started through voluntary initiative, principally by the National Council for Travelling People, and that they are being supported and aided to an increasing extent, both by vocational education committees and AnCO, working in co-operation with each other. Such initiative will continue to have the sympathetic co-operation of my Department.

18.