Eileen Flynn (Independent) | Oireachtas source

It is tough for people from marginalised communities to even apply for a job in the Civil Service. I know that myself from the work I do. Ms McKenna can tell us that we need to get the information out there. How do we do that in a community base? How do we support organisations to deliver that information to people on the ground who may want a job?

We have opened Civil Service jobs up to members of the Traveller community but very few members took up the opportunity to apply. That was not through any fault of their own. It is not normalised that we have people in these communities working in the Civil Service. We need to consider how we can make it appeal to the audience. How do people know it is for them and that the opportunity is there? How do we encourage people? A person may be applying for a job but not be supported to do the job or might not have good living conditions. How can a person go for a job if he or she does not have good living conditions? The person may be struggling and not have care assistance. It is difficult for some people.