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

As I said earlier, the national Traveller and Roma inclusion strategy is the current strategy we are implementing, in partnership and in conjunction with representatives of the Traveller community who sit on the steering committee that I chair. They are doing amazing work and part of that work is identifying how we can recognise, strengthen and engage with the history, culture and heritage of the Traveller community. It is really exciting work in many ways. What they are bringing to the table is very important not only in this area but in the area of education, housing, health, mental health and so on, right across the board. The officials from all Departments represented on it are really engaged. We recently had a report on accommodation, which the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government was very anxious to receive, and it is being considered by him at the moment. He received it in September and we are expecting positive results from the implementation of that report.

The Minister for Health has been doing a lot of work in this area. I am particularly interested in education and ensuring children can go to school and celebrate their culture in school. The Minister for Education and Skills has been doing work that area, as the Deputy knows.

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