Ms Maria Joyce:

I shall make two brief points. The issue of targeted measures for Traveller children in school and special measures is really important in terms of supports and resources across the board. We also need Travellers as teachers. There are some Travellers who are teachers but their number must be significantly supported to enhance the visibility of culture and how that is taught within schools. It is important for a Traveller child to be taught in the classroom by a teacher who is a Traveller. A significant number of measures must be put in place to ensure scholarships and supports are available across the board in terms of whatever choice of education Travellers go into. Having more teachers who are Travellers would have a significant impact on changing some of this.

On ethnicity, it was a hard-fought battle through 30 or 40 years to achieve the recognition that came in 2017. It was just a start. Very little has been done since then. There has been an overall lack of implementation of the recommendations within the existing strategies. This issue needs to be taken in a serious and significant way by the State, which needs to ensure that the recommendations are rolled out because there is increasing disillusionment. It was an incredibly important announcement, particularly for our young people in terms of their identity and self-esteem to which significant damage has been caused through the years. Action is needed to deliver on the recognition and bring about the change in education and other policy areas that is needed for Travellers so that we do not continue to have these conversations in ten or 15 years. The point made by Ms Flynn on what she wants for her daughter, Billy, in the education system is what we representatives wanted for our children because our experience in education was very negative. The State failed us in that regard, as it has failed our children. I want for my grandchildren what Ms Flynn wants for Billy. I hope that they will not be damaged by the Irish education system.