Traveller Education: the Current Situation

Traveller pre-schools were set up prior to the investment in community childcare places under the Equal Opportunities Childcare Programme (EOCP) and the National Childcare Investment Programme (NCIP). In mid-2005 there was 45 Traveller pre-schools in existence.Most of them were established through voluntary, local development and later received support from the Department of Education and Science, the Department of Health and Children and various voluntary and charitable groups. Government policy as set out in the 2006 Strategy is to phase out segregated pre-school provision over a 5-10 year period. This process has started with Traveller pre-schools closing down where there are alternative places available in pre-schools in the community, where the Board of Management consider’s that the pre-school is no longer viable or at the recommendations of the Department’s Inspectorate. There are currently 29 segregated pre-schools for Travellers located throughout the country (link to list of pre-schools)

As an alternative to closure, some Traveller pre-schools have closed and re-opened as integrated community pre-schools. The Department however does not grant-aid such integrated pre-schools on what it described as 'grounds of equity' with community pre-schools in general. These pre-schools instead are funded under the National Childcare Investment Programme and have a tiered system of fees in place based on parental income. 2008 saw 3 Traveller pre-schools operating as integrated provision.

It is important to note that some Traveller children also attend community childcare facilities and the 40 Early Start pre-schools around the country, and some Traveller children access private early-schooling. Attendance at pre-school gives the young children a valuable educational experience and prepares them for primary education.

Free Pre-School Year in Early Childhood Care & Education (ECCE)

As part of the April 2009 Budget, a new scheme to provide for a free Pre-School Year in Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) was announced by the Government.

The announcement of a free pre-school year for all children is a landmark development in the provision of early childhood care and education services for young children in Ireland.  The new scheme will be implemented by the Office of the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs (OMCYA), and will be open to all private and community pre-school services which meet the requirements of the scheme.  For further Information on the scheme (see attached and or contact the OMCYA helpline at 1890 30 30 39. Queries can also be directed to childcare_mail@health.gov.ie.  General information on the new scheme, together with answers to the most frequently-asked questions, can be accessed through the OMCYA website at www.omcya.ie


Concerns have raised about the inadequate funding for Traveller pre-schools, which results in unsuitable premises for early childhood education and the fact that there is no standardization in qualifications held by pre-school staff. Training should be provided for those currently involved in Traveller pre-schools to gain the necessary skills and qualifications to continue with their work. All pre-schools should have enrolment policies which guard against anti-Traveller racism and other forms of discrimination. Staff in pre-schools should receive training in equality and anti-racism and intercultural resources for use in pre-schools should be developed.

The Department of Education and Science carried out a national evaluation of the pre-schools for Travellers. The report of the evaluation was published in 2003 and it provides recommendations on how the early childhood education of very young Travellers can be improved. This can be accessed at: www.education.ie/servlet/blobservlet/preschool_traveller.pdf

The Department of Education and Science’s approach to early childhood education is underpinned by the White Paper on Early Childhood Education- Ready to Learn (1999). It can be accessed at: www.education.ie/servlet/blobservlet/contents.htm


Further information on Early Childhood care in Ireland and pre-school provision can be found in a report by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), titled the OECD Thematic review of Early Childhood Education and Care Policy in Ireland, which can be accessed at:
www.education.ie/servlet/blobservlet/oecd_thematic_reivew_early_childhood_background_report.pdf

The Centre for Early Childhood Development and Education (CECDE) was formed in 2002 to develop and co-ordinate early childhood education in accordance with the objectives of the White Paper ‘Ready to Learn’ and to advise the Department of Education and Science on policy issues on childhood education. For information on their research and publications, access their website at:  www.cecde.ie/

The Children’s Rights Alliance aims to secure the changes in legislation, policies and services required to ensure the implementation in Ireland of the UN Convention of the Rights of the Child and provides information on children’s rights in Ireland. Their website can be accessed at: www.childrensrights.ie