Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Deputy for raising this issue on a very appropriate day. I have not seen the survey. I will take a look at it. I have no doubt that its contents are correct. It certainly rings true for me, given my experience, and I am sure it rings true for many in this House. There can be no doubt that Irish Travellers have, for generations, faced a huge degree of disadvantage and discrimination solely by reason and virtue of their birth. They have suffered discrimination in employment and in housing. This is reflected in higher levels of poverty and lower levels of educational attainment.

I do not think it is fair, however, to say that no action has been taken or that Government has done nothing in recent years. I am proud to have been a member of the Government that took the decision to recognise Traveller identity and ethnicity three years ago. That was not done by a party of the left or a different government but the Government led by my party, Fine Gael, alongside the Labour Party. We have also announced some changes in the way in which Traveller housing funds are to work. These were announced by the Minister, Deputy Darragh O'Brien, only the other day in acknowledgement of the fact that local authorities perform very poorly indeed in providing Traveller accommodation. The Minister has indicated that the system is going to change. Instead of money not being drawn down every year, as it often is not, a new system is to be put in place which will make sure that more Traveller-specific accommodation is provided in the years ahead.

A lot is also being done to ensure a greater focus on Traveller and Roma health and on providing educational opportunities for people from the Travelling community. While the numbers may be small, it is good to see more and more Travellers finishing secondary school, making it to third level and availing of those educational opportunities.

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