2026-04-23

I thank the Ceann Comhairle for selecting this Topical Issue for discussion. Every child is innocent and should have the opportunity to reach his or her full potential but the education system and the State are failing Traveller children. We have statistics showing that only 27% of young Travellers complete post-primary education compared to 97% of the wider population and less than 1% of Travellers go on to third level education. This issue is particularly topical in the context of a report from UCC entitled Traveller transitions - Racialised inequalities in education, which was launched today. It is qualitative research so it is the voice of young Traveller people themselves. One of the key findings was that young Traveller people find the loss of tailored supports in the transition from primary to post-primary school extremely difficult. Relationships between Traveller young people and school staff are crucial but most Traveller young people in this study reported negative relationships with teachers. There were a number of other findings and recommendations for Government, schools and for policymakers. Recommendations include ensuring that: Traveller young people are supported in the transition into secondary school from primary school; ethnic segregation practices are not happening at school; discipline practices are not disproportionately affecting Travellers; and practices of inclusion are informed by Traveller young people themselves. These recommendations reflect some of the key findings. Does the State have a strategy? It has a Traveller and Roma education strategy. I looked at the third progress report from December last year which is only a handful of months ago. It shows that a significant number of measures were only partially implemented or not implemented at all. We have been over this ground previously and have identified the barriers and what needs to happen but the necessary progress has not been made. What measures is the Government taking to support young Travellers and to increase the number of young Travellers who are completing primary and secondary school?

I thank the Deputy for raising this issue. This week there has been a lot of focus, correctly, on the areas raised by Deputy O'Rourke. Delivering an education system that is of the highest quality and where every child and young person feels valued and is actively supported and nurtured to reach his or her full potential is a key priority for the Government and the Minister. In that regard, supporting the education of Travellers and Roma children is one of the key objectives of the Government. Currently action to address Traveller and Roma education outcomes is progressed through the Traveller and Roma Education Strategy 2024-2030 and its associated plans for implementation and action which were developed through the strong collaboration of Traveller and Roma organisations with the Department of Children, Disability and Equality and the Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science. The strategy acknowledges that Travellers and Roma are among the most disadvantaged and marginalised groups in Ireland. While educational outcomes have improved in recent years, they remain significantly below those in the general population, as outlined by Deputy O'Rourke. Key actions contained in the plan for implementation and action include increasing the number of Traveller and Roma young people who are completing post-primary school and achieving the leaving certificate; embedding Traveller culture and history into the curriculum; promoting workforce diversity; and providing teacher training on inclusion, cultural competence and anti-racism. The Minister is committed to promoting positive relationships and supporting the learning of Traveller and Roma children and young people. In this regard, funding was provided for 15 community link workers to work across a number of schools in areas where there are high numbers of Traveller and Roma children and young people. Their roles will focus on fostering greater engagement with Traveller and Roma families to facilitate successful communication, promote positive relationships and support the learning of Traveller and Roma children and young people by linking them to resources within their area. The link workers will provide vital engagement on the ground between schools, families and communities. In addition, two Traveller and Roma strategy national co-ordinators and a Traveller and Roma education strategy general manager were appointed to support the implementation of the strategy and to lead on specific actions outlined in the initial two-year plan for implementation and action. The implementation of the strategy is supported by action plans, governance and consultation structures, including the Traveller and Roma education strategy plan for implementation and action and associated progress reports. The strategy's oversight group and the Traveller and Roma education forum are ensuring ongoing engagement with communities and effective monitoring of progress. Work is currently under way on the development of the next plan for implementation and action, running from 2026 to 2028, which is due to be published in July of this year. To inform the plan, engagement is ongoing with the Traveller and Roma education strategy oversight group, the Traveller and Roma education forum and other Traveller and Roma organisations, communities, children and young people. I know that any contribution to that by Deputy O'Rourke would be welcomed by the Minister.

This is really important. I welcome a number of recent announcements by the Government related to DEIS plus and the DEIS plan. I will contest every inch of it but the principle of the transformational power of education and a specific focus on educational inequality is hugely important. Within that, there needs to be a particular focus on the Traveller population because the figures are absolutely shocking. I referred to the completion rate for the leaving certificate, but if we consider those on reduced hours or timetables and the rate of absenteeism, the potential is being ripped from the lives of these young people. The State can take significant steps through the education system and other services to support these young people. They deserve that opportunity the same as every other child. I will be happy to engage with the further consultations and progress reports. A wealth of effort has been put in to date. There is a roadmap but it needs to be actioned and implemented. The stakes are high here. The number of children that are being failed, falling through the cracks and are being left behind by dint of the fact that they are Travellers is a stain and a shame on the State.

I thank the Deputy for raising this important matter. I want to underline, without any degree of uncertainty, that the Government, just like everyone else in the House, is absolutely committed to increasing the number of Traveller and Roma children who complete primary and secondary education. The vision of the Traveller and Roma education strategy is that we want a high-quality, inclusive education system that is open and welcoming to all, irrespective of background or ability and that meaningfully engages learners of all ages in a positive learning environment where quality is upheld, diversity respected and where every individual is valued and actively supported to reach their full potential. The next two-year TRES plan for implementation and action will be published in July. The new plan will focus on improving the opportunities and achievement levels of Traveller and Roma children and young people and in addressing racism and discrimination by developing more targeted cultural competence in training and teaching Traveller culture and history through the curriculum. The TRES and its associated plans for implementation and action reinforce the Government's commitment to supporting and nurturing Traveller and Roma children and young people to reach their full potential in education and making up for lost decades of missed opportunities from successive Governments in the political system and the education system as a whole.