Peadar Tóibín (Meath West, Aontú)
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28. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the steps he is taking to increase participation of members of the Travelling community in third level education, and to foster a more welcoming environment in universities for Travellers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25486/25]

James Lawless (Kildare North, Fianna Fail)
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Improving the rate of participation of the Travelling community in third level education is one of the key priorities under the National Access Plan 2022-2028.

Far too few Travellers participate in higher education. The National Access Plan target is for 150 new entrants each year to higher education by 2028, but the latest figures suggest around 40 new entrants.

Addressing this issue requires a mix of whole-of-Government action and more targeted educational supports.

The National Traveller and Roma Inclusion Strategy 2024 – 2028 is a whole of Government inclusion strategy to improve the lives of Travellers and Roma in areas such as Health, Housing, Education and Employment. My Department has contributed to that strategy and is in the process of implementing the associated actions for which we are responsible.

Together with the Department of Education and Youth and the Department of Children, Disability and Equality, my Department co-launched the Traveller and Roma Education Strategy last July. The strategy outlines the strategic direction for Traveller and Roma education policy for the next six years, covering education pathways from early years to higher education.

A dedicated Programme for Access to Higher Education (PATH) funding stream has been put in place to support measures for students from the Traveller and Roma communities The PATH 5 programme provides €450k each year to support access, participation and success for students from the Traveller and Roma communities.

In addition, Travellers, who are named as a core target group in the National Access Plan, are included in all strands of PATH programmes in the NAP. My recent announcement of a €2.8m extension of the Universal Design for Learning fund, has a portion of funding ringfenced to support anti racism measures in Higher Education Institutions for Traveller and Roma students.

A pilot Student Accommodation Bursary was introduced last year to support students from the traveller and Roma communities who are struggling to meet the costs associated with accommodation while attending Higher Education. Last year 68 students received supports under this scheme.

On the apprenticeship side, the Traveller Apprenticeship Incentivisation bursary, which was launched in 2023, awards €3000 to Travellers who are participating in apprenticeship or pre-apprenticeship courses, with a third stream for Employers who take on traveller apprentices being awarded €2000.

Other financial supports such as the SUSI grant and the 1916 Bursary are available to eligible students from the Traveller and Roma communities.