A strategy to address disadvantage, discrimination and inequalities faced by Travellers and Roma in health, education, employment and accommodation has been published by the Government.
The National Traveller and Roma Inclusion Strategy 2024-2028 (NTRIS II) follows a previous strategy launched in 2017, which included State recognition of Traveller ethnicity.
Implementation of the latest strategy - containing nine themes - is the responsibility of the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth.
The Department of Social Protection will oversee employment opportunities for Travellers and Roma through a strengthened Traveller employment support programme, a new Public Service Traveller and Roma Internship Programme, and enterprise supports.
It also includes cultural awareness training for staff in all Government departments and public bodies within three months of employment.
The National Traveller Mental Health Implementation Plan will be the responsibility of the Department of Health and will strengthen support for suicide prevention and the development of the first Roma Health Action Plan.
'Positive commitments'
The Traveller and Roma representative organisation Pavee Point has welcomed the launch of NTRIS II by Minister Roderic O'Gorman, which it said was as a result of lobbying to ensure a strategic, coordinated whole of Government approach to Traveller and Roma inclusion.
Pavee Point commended the "positive commitments" across departments and agencies to the Roma Community in particular; however, its co-director Martin Collins said actions were limited when it came to ending Roma homelessness.
"There is a need for stronger action and commitment from the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage to address Traveller and Roma homelessness and provide culturally appropriate accommodation," he said.
Mr Collins acknowledged that the NTRIS II is "a living document" which will enable it to evolve and grow in line with current needs such as homelessness, child poverty and climate justice.
While there have been calls in recent years from the National Assembly of Travellers in Ireland for a State apology due to the hurt and trauma experienced by the community, this is not proposed in the strategy.
It follows an historic formal Government apology to indigenous communities in Australia in 2008.
Speaking to the media at the launch of the strategy, Minister O’Gorman said such an apology did not form any major part of the discussion on the latest NTRIS strategy.
"Obviously there'll be an oversight body that will oversee the implementation of the new program if that's raised".
He also noted that State apologies "in other areas", have shown that they need to be carefully thought out and considered "in terms of what is being encompassed".
