Ms Maria Joyce:

That shows what can happen in a space where there are those targeted supports and resources and shows the positive outcomes there can be there for that. That is in the midst of a wider Traveller mental health crisis. Those higher suicide rates are not coming out the air. They are a direct result of a wider mental health crisis. I make the point strongly that counselling supports and wider therapy supports are not there in a meaningful way for the majority population, never mind for an ethnic minority where the cultural understanding in terms of those services is not there. We have long called for a Traveller mental health strategy. The previous programme for Government had a Traveller mental health strategy but it did not get delivered in the lifespan of that Government and it has still not been delivered. We are starting to see a bit more interest in it but we need that very targeted strategy to look at that wider crisis.

Senator Maria Byrne mentioned the school retention rate. We know there are significant issues regarding equality of outcomes in terms of access, participation and outcomes from education. At one point, we had 100% transfer rates from primary to second level. Covid has affected that. The downturn in the economy stripped out a lot of resources for Traveller children.

We do not have 100% transfer rates from primary to second level. We also have a significant drop-off rate after the junior certificate. There are still huge efforts. We hope that, with the implementation of actions under the Traveller and Roma education strategy, schools will look at addressing that crisis. It is easy to see why children who have a very negative experience of education do not want to stay within the system. We are starting to see more Traveller children completing second level, although not enough, and some then go directly into third level. More of that is needed, however. We need more opportunities and supports to keep Traveller children in school, having positive experiences of education and thriving as opposed to trying to hide their very identity and who they are to try to survive the system. That is what is still happening to many of our Traveller children within the education system.