Sir, - I wish to draw attention to the industrial action in the Department of Education which has been going on since January and has received so little coverage. The Irish Traveller Movement recognises the serious consequences of understaffing in the Special Education Section of the Department of Education and its direct negative effect in education provision.
The dispute is a matter of grave concern to parents and teachers, and as a direct result no developments in Traveller education can take place. The strike means that special teachers cannot be appointed to schools, even if sanctioned by the department, leaving Traveller children without the educational support they need. It also means that the three visiting teacher posts advertised last November have not been filled.
The Special Co ordinating Committee on Traveller Education, which is meant to promote the recommendations of the Task Force on the Travelling Community (July 1995), has not been able to meet. In view of these and other negative consequences of failing to resolve the dispute, we ask the Minister to move swiftly to bring the strike to an immediate and satisfactory end. - Yours, etc.,
Irish Traveller Movement Education Working Group,
34A John's Street,
Limerick.