Mr. Patrick Reilly:

I will work backwards. Regarding Traveller education, the Travelling with Austerity study showed that the most disproportionate cuts during the austerity period were to Traveller services, including an 85% cut in respect of education. That is baffling in light of how important education is. If people have good qualifications, they can get good jobs and have a good lifestyle. It has physical and mental health impacts. Education is very important. Unfortunately, 85% of Traveller education funding was cut.

A point was mentioned that I had meant to make, but it left my mind. In terms of mental health, we are talking about youth mental health, maternal mental health, women's mental health, men's mental health, LGBT mental health, etc. It is broad. There is a major issue with access to services, with services not meeting Travellers where they are at. There is a cultural lesson to be learned from this. We must be mindful that what works for one community might not work for another.

My message to the Oireachtas is that, while we welcome this opportunity, we are here and doing our part. We want to do it and will continue doing it. We just need the involvement of the top levels and for all Departments to work with us, not block us. I thank the committee.