Eileen Flynn (Independent) | Oireachtas source

Less than 1% of the Traveller community goes on to third level education. To many people in this Chamber, that may seem like a very low number. Obviously it is, but for us as the Traveller community, it is a high enough number. Going back 15 or 20 years ago, there was very little participation of Travellers in third level education.

I welcome the supports and measures that have been put in place over the past few years by the Minister, Deputy Harris, around access programmes, especially access for members of the Traveller community. Galway has a great access programme that is focused on getting Travellers in the door to third level education.

I am also a graduate of TAP. I remember how tough my first year in college was, having a euro every day going into college. I did not have the money to pay on the Luas. I really struggled in the first year of college trying to get in to make something of my life - not having the money to be able to do that, but still trying to hard to do it. Every day I would go in with a euro. At that time, I was drinking tea, and I would get one cup of tea a day. I did not have the capacity to be able to study, I was not getting sustainable food and I was not looking after my health in my first year of college because I just did not have the money.

Two years after that, I went to Ballyfermot College, where I was able to pay weekly or monthly for my education for the access fee, which was brilliant and absolutely helped me. I then took a year out to look after my dad who was dying.I then got a job and had money. I did not get the SUSI grant while attending Maynooth University, but I had a good job so I was able to get a degree. For members of the Traveller community, there are many barriers when it comes to first level and second level education, never mind third level. In the past two weeks we have seen reports, including the one from Tusla about the reduced timetables. This report notes that 4% of Traveller children in primary schools are on reduced timetables. In secondary schools, the figure is more than 12%. In addition, 24% of Traveller children are on reduced timetables in special schools. Where is the equality of opportunity there?

I understand that Minister had to go away and do something else. That says a lot about the conversation we are meant to be having. I understand that the Minister of State is not responsible for this. I have emailed the Minister for Education twice on this issue. I could not come into the Chamber yesterday because I was so angry. I said to myself that there was no way I could speak about education because of the level of anger I had in me. I am nobody important, but for the community and the young people that I am trying to make changes for, the Minister could have least had a bit of respect and responded to my email. We emailed the Minister more than a week ago inquiring about how we could deal with second level education to ensure that Travellers have equality of opportunity.

We are sick of hearing the phrase "If you can see it, you can be it" for many years. Many Travellers can see doctors, nurses and gardaí. The can see these jobs but they cannot be them because the opportunity to be successful within the education system is not there. The 18-year-old me went to college every day just to take part, to be there and to have the experience. That highlights the importance of access programmes. Even if a person does not qualify at the end of one of them, they at least have the one year of experience which is great for a their CV. Travellers want employment and they want to go to university. Unfortunately, the opportunities are still not there for them. I worked with a young Traveller woman during the summer who was under great pressure to pay for accommodation in Galway University. Obviously, we all have to pay for accommodation but this young woman did not have the money to pay for it and there were no special measures put in place. Thankfully, we dealt with the situation. There should be special measures put in place to help students, however. We are not asking for a handout or special treatment, just equality of opportunity to be able to be successful within the education system.