Ms Brigid Quirke:

Discrimination is also a factor. It takes many forms - direct, indirect and institutional. Again, as Mr. Reilly said, services are designed for the majority population and assume a level of literacy, education, income capacity and transport which excludes people at the margins. However, this is done without intent. That is where one needs to develop proper proofing mechanisms to Traveller-proof services and policies to make them inclusive. Discrimination is insidious and impacting on young people. We have a very high suicide rate among youth. One can imagine the level of self-esteem of young people if they are called names and not recognised and their culture is not supported or endorsed. We learn to be confident of our history as Irish people in going through school, but if someone goes through school without being acknowledged, he or she is made to feel he or she has to deny his or her identity, as many Travellers do. This has an effect. Traveller culture is in transition. This puts a lot of pressure on young people. Discrimination is across the board and part of the social determinants.