Ms Carol Baxter:

The main Traveller organisations are represented on NTRIS. What we wanted to do was to try to have a very action-oriented committee, which includes Pavee Point, the Irish Traveller Movement and the National Traveller Women's Forum. All of the main representative organisations are on the steering committee and they are often on the subcommittees. The employment subcommittee is specifically chaired by a Traveller. The new forum is planned for 9 October. The intention is to bring a wide range of organisations and people together from across the country with the aim of striking a balance between a very action-oriented committee that moves things forward and having a broader forum which allows for consultation.

On the care issue, as I referenced Tusla provides bursaries for Travellers pursuing social care professions to be either social care workers or social workers. Four people are being funded this year and 21 people have been funded so far under that scheme.

Tusla sees that as a way of attracting Travellers into an area where there is crucial employment need. It is very interested in expanding that.