Written answers

Tuesday, 27 June 2017

Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation

Traveller Data

Photo of Fergus O'DowdFergus O'Dowd (Louth, Fine Gael)
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137. To ask the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation 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. [29696/17]

Photo of Frances FitzgeraldFrances Fitzgerald (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael)
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My Department does not have responsibility for operating any programmes or fund any support services targeted specifically at the traveller community. However, members of the traveller community are able to access funding and support from the enterprise agencies and Local Enterprise Offices (LEOs) on the same basis as other members of the public. For example, Enterprise Ireland and the LEOs provide a range of supports for entrepreneurs and people with ideas for setting up new businesses.

Some LEOs have responded to emergent needs amongst minority groupings (including the traveller and Roma communities) on a local (bespoke) basis, with tailored training, mentoring and signposting services. Examples of such activities are: LEO Offaly provided mentoring to a group of women from the traveller community in 2014 and LEO Mayo provided additional mentor support to a contestant from the traveller community in Ireland’s Best Young Entrepreneur programme.

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