Séamus McGrath (Cork South-Central, Fianna Fail)

I thank the witnesses for coming in. I can see from their engagement and their answers that they are passionate about this area. It is very welcome to see that that extra input and effort is there on their part. Like Senator Rabbitte, I advocated for them to come in because education is critical when speaking about the Traveller community in order that a sufficient number of members of the Travelling community can have that level of education and can advocate for themselves properly and effectively. That is so important.

As regards the school environment, I listened to Senator Rabbitte speak about the school principals and staff and so on, who may not be the most encouraging in certain areas in getting Traveller pupils into the school system. In the witnesses' experience, what feedback do they have as to how tough an environment it is for Traveller children to be in a school setting? We all know - I have young children myself - that the schoolyard can be a difficult place. Children do not have the understanding, I suppose, of their behaviour and how it can impact on others and can be so emotionally difficult for their peers in school and so on. I imagine Traveller children must experience that quite a lot in terms of prejudice and the different background they come from as an ethnic minority and so on. In the witnesses' experience, how much do they think that is an issue for retaining Traveller children in the school system? If the children themselves do not want to go because they do not have a healthy, welcoming environment in school, we are up against a very difficult battle in trying to increase participation overall. I would be interested to hear the witnesses' views on that.