Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire (Cork South Central, Sinn Fein)
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37. To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the initiatives she has taken in order to ensure Traveller children are provided with the supports they require in view of the recent statement by An Taoiseach recognising Traveller ethnicity; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15215/17]

Katherine Zappone (Dublin South West, Independent)
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At the outset, I want to confirm my strong support for the recognition of the Traveller Community as an ethnic group and the recent events in Dáil Éireann, led by the Taoiseach, at which it was confirmed. It is important we recognise the significant challenges facing this indigenous Community and the significant disadvantages experienced by Traveller children with poorer outcomes in education, employment, accommodation and health.

The Deputy will be aware that the United Nations Committee on the Rights of the Child, in its Concluding Observations following its examination of Ireland in January 2016, recommended that “Ireland considers legally recognising the Traveller and Roma as ethnic groups in the State party and, in doing so, implement disaggregated data collection on these communities to facilitate the provision of targeted support programmes and measures”

My colleague, the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality, has primary responsibility for Traveller and Roma policy. The Department of Justice and Equality is currently finalising a new National Traveller and Roma Inclusion Strategy, and a set of actions to bring about a real improvement in the quality of life for Travellers and Roma, including children.

Better Outcomes, Brighter Futures,thenational policy framework in relation to children and young people, contains a range of commitments to Traveller and Roma children, addressing issues such as health, education, and social inclusion. The State of the Nation’s Children Report (2016), includes a specific section on the population of children in the Traveller Community; along with a number of findings related to Traveller children, in areas including nutrition; self-esteem; drug and alcohol use; family relationships; and feelings of safeness within the community. The National Strategy on Children and Young People’s Participation in Decision-making(2015-2020) contains specific actions to strengthen participation in decision-making by Traveller children and young people.

Tusla, the Child and Family Agency, has a statutory responsibility to ensure each child attends a recognised school or otherwise receives a certain minimum education. Tusla's education welfare service, comprising the statutory Education Welfare Service, the School Completion Programme and the Home School Community Liaison scheme, are key supports for children who are vulnerable to early school-leaving and educational disadvantage, including Traveller children.

Children and families from the Traveller Community who require additional support or are identified as vulnerable, also avail of other mainstream services within Tusla. Tusla works in partnership with local authorities, the Health Service Executive and schools to ensure an integrated response to the needs of children and families from the Traveller community, including public health nursing, disability services, and other relevant services. Tusla is operating and supporting a number of integrated and inclusive Traveller specific projects, and provides counselling grants to organisations serving the Traveller community.

My Department also provides annual funding to support specific projects which are targeted at young Travellers; and offer a wide range of programmes and services aimed at young people at risk and who are disadvantaged, due to a combination of factors such as social isolation, substance misuse; involvement in crime; homelessness; early school-leaving and unemployment.