Josepha Madigan (Dublin Rathdown, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

As the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth, Deputy Roderic O'Gorman, is regrettably unable to attend this session, I am pleased to deliver the closing statement on his behalf.

I say to Senator Flynn that the usher who told her she deserves to be here is absolutely correct. Of course she deserves to be here and it is her voice that is effecting change as a Senator, a member of the Traveller community, as an advocate and the expert Chair of the special Oireachtas committee. I compliment the members of the committee here in the Dáil, as well as Deputy Ó Cuív as Vice Chairperson. I have no doubt Senator Flynn is inspiring other members of the Traveller community to become public representatives, and the more public representatives there are here in the Oireachtas speaking on behalf of the Traveller community, the better. That is how change will be effected in a real way.

I also welcome the comments of the Ceann Comhairle about welcoming more of the Traveller community to the Oireachtas here in employment. I note he said he would take that up. To the families of Ms Ronnie Fay and Mr. Michael McDonagh, I also send condolences. I note the work done by them. I also welcome our visitors to the Gallery and acknowledge their professional advocacy. I hope they will take some comfort from all the words said here today. As Senator Flynn has said, those words must be matched with actions and there must be implementation of the recommendations. As Senator Flynn has also said, we must move forward together in order to achieve this.

There is no doubt we are all in agreement that Travellers and Roma continue to suffer from negative stereotypes and discrimination. It is clear from the report that although there has been some improvement, much more needs to be done to ensure full equality of opportunity for Travellers and Roma and remove barriers to their full and equal participation in Irish life.

The Department of the Minister, Deputy O'Gorman, has an important funding role and it provides funding to support a range of activities linked to the national Traveller, Roma and inclusion strategy, and to provide core funding to a number of Traveller and Roma organisations. Under that strategy his Department has secured a budget of €5.659 million for 2022 and an additional €880,000 in dormant account funding has also been secured.

I also note the importance placed on education, the impact it has on a person's life to achieve their potential and on their ability to secure employment. There is a commitment in the programme for Government to develop a Traveller education strategy. This will include early years, primary, secondary and third level education. The Minister, Deputy O'Gorman will engage with the Ministers, Deputies Foley and Harris, in progressing this commitment.

I believe as well that the issue of cultural identity is extremely important. There is a need for broader cultural awareness of Traveller identity and increased visibility of Traveller culture and heritage. The Minister, Deputy O'Gorman, has worked to advance projects that increase the visibility of Traveller culture and heritage. A project is also being progressed with the National Museum of Ireland to develop an online portal to the Traveller culture collections. I am aware that work is under way by the National Council for Curriculum and Assessment arising from an audit of the curriculum in respect of Traveller culture and history with a view to developing opportunities for teaching about that history and culture and developing resources for use in schools.

On behalf of the Minister, Deputy O'Gorman, I thank the committee for its report and reiterate the Government's commitment to continuing its work on ensuring full equality of opportunity for Travellers and Roma and removing the barriers to their full and equal participation in Irish life. For any individual questions that came up today, I will pass them on to the Minister, Deputy O'Gorman.

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