Ms Eileen Flynn:

Gino, thanks. I was trying to be professional. I started my studies at Trinity College 12 years ago. It was such a struggle because I was in a big institution by myself and did not feel I had a place there. I did not feel that I belonged but I was probably my own worst enemy. I used to bunk on the Luas - I should not say that - and buy a cup of tea, which got me through my whole day in college. Unfortunately, I had no supports in Trinity College but that was 12 years ago. I did not enjoy the experience.

Next, I went to Ballyfermot College to do a post-leaving certificate, PLC, course on pre-nursing and caring for people with special needs. I loved the smaller college. Next, I went to Maynooth to get a degree because in Ireland one is nobody without a piece of paper. Unfortunately, nowadays the leaving cert is not the norm, a degree is the norm. Education has become more challenging for Traveller people and many of them do not want to get that piece of paper.

As Ms Maria Joyce has said, between 2008 and 2013 Traveller education supports were cut by 86%. Other costs include the cost of going to university and the cost of travel especially if one does not drive. For the wider community, these things start at a young age and in primary school, and starts with the value placed on a young person within the school system. To succeed in education all it takes is for one person to believe you can do it. I only ever felt valued as a Traveller woman when I worked in the organisations of the Traveller community. Previous to that I never felt valued as a Traveller woman in Ireland, and it was not that I was not good enough for society. On reflection, as a 30 year old Traveller woman, I think that Irish society was never good enough for us. Travellers need to live in a society where we feel we are valued. We are not the same as everybody else but we need to be treated with dignity and respect. If we are shown that in primary school and secondary school, and belief is shown to our young people, then our young people will progress to third level education. If one gets a sense of not belonging then why would one put oneself through any more torture?