Ms Bridget Kelly:

Like I said earlier, we are losing Traveller apprentices because they cannot get employers. This is a big issue and challenge. The work we are doing to date is in trying to build that relationship with employers. We have an outreach officer making links with employers. It is a challenge, however. While we have some employers on board, we need more.

We feel this issue is bigger than ourselves and the programme. We need buy-in from IBEC, the trade unions and the national apprenticeship office. As I outlined in my statement, we are at the early stages of a national employer campaign targeting Traveller apprentices, along with other marginalised groups, with the national apprenticeship office and in collaboration with the likes of the trade unions and IBEC. However, Government commitment is also needed. It should not be left solely to the trade unions, IBEC or the national apprenticeship office; it is down to the Government as well. We also need to see an employment and enterprise strategy put in place that will help address the employment crisis among the Traveller community. We need more employers on board. Based on the statistics I gave earlier, there were 457 expressions of interest. The interest is there from the community but not from the employers. The statistics show that only eight employers availed of the grant over the three years.