Charles Flanagan (Laois-Offaly, Fine Gael)
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Question 305: To ask the Minister for Social Protection what, if any, outreach measures exist to increase Traveller participation in the workforce; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15131/11]

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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The FÁS Traveller Strategy aims to improve its labour market provision for travellers. Fundamental to the achievement of the recommendations of the Strategy is that networks be maintained or enhanced with representatives of travellers and FÁS to create links and manage expectations between cultures.

Under the Strategy FÁS Employment Services and the Local Employment Services (LES) are responsible for strengthening guidance provision for travellers. Travellers continue to be a priority target group for the LES and are specified as such in annual contracts. A total of 289 self – declared travellers registered with FÁS Employment Services in 2009. In addition under the Strategy with a view to strengthening the FÁS remit for responding to the training and employment needs of travellers, travellers continue to be a priority group for Community Employment participation. A total of 75 travellers availed of CE in 2010.

The FÁS Special Initiative for Travellers is an active labour market initiative which aims to deliver practical approaches to redressing the imbalance in traveller unemployment, supports travellers already engaged in the traveller economy, and provides a special training fund to address the training needs of adult travellers. The funding is used exclusively to support projects emerging from the County Development Boards (CDBs) Inter Agency Strategies for members of the travelling community, by seeking to enhance local implementation and delivery of employment support to travellers.

In 2010 13 projects were approved in CDB areas in Counties Meath, Monaghan, Waterford, Wicklow, Tipperary, Laois, Galway, Donegal, Sligo, Cork, Clare and Dublin. A total of 602 travellers engaged in the programme, 38 secured employment, 9 enterprises were established, and 66 travellers underwent training.