Aisling Dolan (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank Ms McDonnell and Ms Fay. These are the things we have to change, including that commentary. Perhaps the teacher who said it did not consider the impact it had on Ms McDonnell in terms of her classmates and her ambition and dedication. What I would love to see is training and learning. We are trying to promote the apprenticeship programme, that sometimes it is not just the sole routes or some of the mainstream routes. There is learning at all ages and going back into education for anybody. Well done to our guests. It is a great achievement, and they will be real advocates for their community as well. I thank them for going through it and giving me that information. In the education committee we are going through the report on how to support building more inclusion and everything else, as well as recommendations for the Department. I will take this with me as well.

In the last communication I had from Ms Nora Corcoran she told me a little about what the Galway Traveller Movement and what the volunteers did during Covid. They worked with the health units and the Traveller health units in the HSE. They did wraparound services and brought out groceries, masks and sanitisers. They worked with the nurses there as well. People really pulled together and that is very positive, but there is such a worry about the things that are out there now. They spoke a great deal about the high suicide rate in the Traveller community. All I can say is that we will take heed of the points made here today, and I will be happy to link in with the witnesses at any stage in the future. I thank the witnesses.