Katherine Zappone (Dublin South West, Independent) | Oireachtas source

On that question, I raised the matter with the Minister for Education and Skills, Deputy Richard Bruton.

With regard to some of the Deputy's initial comments in her final contribution, my Department allocates funding - €220,000 in total in 2016 - to a number of projects and organisations working specifically with young Travellers. The overall objective of the funding to the youth sector is to support the personal and social development of young people outside, but complementary to, the formal education system. It places particular emphasis the youth work needs of young people between the ages of ten and 21 who experience social or economic disadvantage.

In taking up my Ministry, I took the chair of the consortium on Better Outcomes, Brighter Futures, the national strategy for children and young people. A number of objectives, particularly in regard to Traveller and Roma children, have been identified. I am overseeing and chairing the consortium to ensure, to the extent that I can and within my Ministry, we move towards tackling the inequalities in health, education and other areas for Traveller children.

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