David Stanton (Cork East, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I acknowledge the Deputy's point that the recognition last March by the Government and indeed by all parties here of Travellers as an ethnic minority represented a crucial step forward in the relationship between the Government, the Traveller community and the settled community. It is my aim that the national Traveller and Roma inclusion strategy will build on this landmark decision and we will work to bring about concrete improvements in the lives of Travellers across the country. The national strategy is a work in progress. I ask everybody to support and become aware of it to ensure it works.

Again, I note the Deputy's understandable concerns about the issues affecting the Traveller community, which have been covered by this survey. My Department and I are ensuring that progress continues to be made regarding tackling each of the areas of concern raised in the national Traveller community survey. Implementing the national Traveller and Roma inclusion strategy is a key objective of mine in co-operation with other key stakeholders. Again, I ask councillors around the country to row in behind this strategy and support it. They have a responsibility as councillors to do that.

In line with the objectives of the national strategy, the programme that is of real benefit to Travellers is the social inclusion and community activation programme, SICAP, which has the aim of reducing poverty and promoting social inclusion and equality through local, regional and national engagement and collaboration. The SICAP funding allocation for front-line delivery for 2017 is €37.5 million, which includes an allocation of €3 million under the European Social Fund's programme for employability, inclusion and learning programme 2014-20. It is a key priority of Government and as a key intervention for the hard to reach in society, the Deputy will be pleased to know that the programme's target groups include Travellers in particular. From 1 January to 21 March 2017, SICAP supported 22,105 individuals, of which 385 self-identified as Irish Travellers with 147 local community groups supported under SICAP where Travellers are a named target group.

I note the Deputy's desire for more Travellers to be included and employed by the State, including Government Departments. Again, this is also part of the strategy. The strategy is very new, having been launched in June. I look forward to everybody supporting it and working through it. Everybody agrees that the challenges are enormous. There is a lot to be done.

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