Education

Five submissions referenced educational disadvantages faced by the Traveller and Roma communities (TVG, Cork; Aontas; TEJP; Pavee Point and NTP). Both Pavee Point and TEJP recommended the reinstatement of funding for Traveller education programmes. The TEJP stated:

TEJP echoed recommendations made elsewhere by Pavee Point that 2011 funding cuts for these programmes be reversed, alongside the creation of a National Traveller Education Strategy.

Pavee Point argued that public service “habitual residence” requirements result in attendance and resourcing challenges for some Traveller and Roma families. Pavee Point suggested that: 57.5% of Roma people in Ireland “report not having enough money for school books and uniforms”. Aontas, meanwhile, referenced an ESRI report that “early school leaving” is disproportionately high among the Traveller population in comparison to the general population in Ireland.