Fergus O'Dowd (Louth, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

524. To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the position regarding Traveller support and services provided by her Department in each county; the groups, agencies and voluntary bodies involved; the cost of same for each county for the past three years and to date in 2017; her plans to set up an advisory group to report on the minimum levels of support and services from her Department that should be available in each county to address the needs and the rights of Travellers; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [29688/17]

Katherine Zappone (Dublin South West, Independent)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

My colleague, the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality, has primary responsibility for Traveller and Roma policy. The Department of Justice and Equality has recently finalised a new National Traveller and Roma Inclusion Strategy containing actions to bring about improvements in the quality of life of 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. I have referred the question to Tusla and asked them to provide the information on these matters directly to the Deputy.

The Youth Affairs Unit of my Department administers a range of funding schemes and programmes to support the provision of youth services to young people throughout the country including those from disadvantaged communities. These schemes include the Youth Service Grant Scheme under which funding is provided to support 30 national and major regional youth organisations. Targeted supports for disadvantaged, marginalised and at risk young people are provided through the Special Projects for Youth Scheme, the Young Peoples Facilities and Services Fund, Rounds 1 and 2, Local Drugs Task Force Projects and certain other programmes including the Local Youth Club Grant Scheme and Youth Information Centres. In 2017, current funding of €57 million has been provided to my Department for these schemes which are open to all young people.

The Special Projects for Youth Scheme, the Young People’s Facilities and Services Fund (Rounds 1 and 2) and the Local Drug Task Forces LDTFs operate several youth work initiatives that are specifically aimed at young Travellers, such as the initiatives operated by Involve, Exchange House Traveller Youth Service and Travact. In general, these youth work initiatives entail consultation with the local Traveller community, the involvement of members of that community in the management of the project and liaison with other voluntary and statutory agencies operating in the youth service sphere. Other projects funded other than these schemes may include services and activities for young travellers but they are not exclusive to young travellers. The following table sets out allocation to traveller youth projects for the period 2015-2017: