Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 11 December 2025
246. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the steps his Department is taking to increase participation in higher education by members of the Travelling community; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [67803/25]
View answerImproving the rate of participation of the Traveller community in third level education is one of the key priorities under the National Access Plan (NAP) 2022-2028.
The NAP identifies several key priority groups that are currently under-represented in higher education, including Irish Travellers and the Roma community.
The NAP target is for 150 new entrants from the Traveller and Roma communities each year to higher education by 2028. According to the Equal Access Survey, there were 40 self-declared Traveller new entrants to higher education in 2023/24.
The Programme for Access to Higher Education (PATH) is the main funding stream that supports the implementation of the NAP. PATH 5 was established as a three-year pilot to support access, participation and success for students from the Traveller and Roma communities with a dedicated sustainable funding stream of €1.35m, projects are currently ongoing.
In addition, Travellers, who are a named core target group in the NAP, are included in all strands of PATH programmes. I announced earlier this year that I was providing €2.8m for the Inclusive Environment fund to further build this fund includes funding ring fenced to support anti racism measures in Higher Education Institutions for Traveller and Roma students.
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 in 2024. 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.
The strategy is guided by four strategic pillars:
• Pillar 1. Participation and experience: Improve the learning experience of Travellers and Roma at all levels of the education system.
• Pillar 2. Outcomes: Ensure equity of access, opportunity and outcome for Travellers and Roma to fulfil their potential through our education system.
• Pillar 3. Partnership: Working together across the system and with the Traveller and Roma communities, including Traveller and Roma organisations, to support the delivery of this strategy.
• Pillar 4. Delivering Change: Drive the implementation of this strategy and implementation plan, monitor progress and evaluate the outcomes.
A Traveller and Roma Strategy Oversight Group was established to monitor progress. The group consists of representatives from relevant Departments and agencies, and the Traveller and Roma organisations.
The National Traveller and Roma Inclusion Strategy II (NTRIS) 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.
The aims of NTRIS include:
• Achieving equality of education outcomes.
• Supporting an inclusive school community.
• Promoting a positive culture of respect and protection for the cultural identity of Travellers and Roma in education.
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 academic year 68 students received supports under this scheme.
Other financial supports such as the SUSI grant and the 1916 Bursary are also available to eligible students from the Traveller and Roma communities.
Census 2022 revealed that 312 Travellers obtained a third-level qualification, which was almost double the Census 2016 figure of 167.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
