James Browne (Wexford, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I am very much aware that Travellers are significantly over-represented in the prison population. The Irish Prison Service is providing targeted supports, including adult educational programmes, which cater to the specific needs of the Traveller community. Traveller liaison teachers have been appointed in each educational centre. The service has also introduced peer support services, peer-led mediation and the training of Traveller volunteers for the Red Cross programme. The equine centre at Castlerea Prison, which was established in 2020 in partnership with the equine industry, has succeeded in developing confidence, self-worth and practical training for Travellers in prison. I visited Castlerea Prison a short while ago.

There are currently 360 Garda diversity officers across all Garda divisions. They receive additional training and support from the GNDIU to engage actively with and attend to the concerns of minority and diverse communities, providing reassurance, building trust and extending accessibility to Garda services. The training of diversity officers is ongoing and includes models on racial profiling and, of course, unconscious bias.

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