Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 1 June 2023
298. Deputy Imelda Munster asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the plans he has to make provision for a Traveller culture and heritage safeguarding strategy; if he will allocate funding for same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26886/23]
View answerAs the Deputy may be aware, In March 2017 the Irish State recognised Travellers as a distinct ethnic group in Irish society. By taking this step, Ireland has shown its determination to value and preserve the unique culture, identity and heritage of Travellers in this country, and to overcoming the legacy of marginalisation and discrimination that the community has experienced.
Building on this milestone, the Irish Government remains committed to improving the lives of the Traveller and Roma Communities in Ireland. The National Traveller and Roma Inclusion Strategy (NTRIS) is a whole of Government approach to bring about meaningful change and progress for the Traveller and Roma communities in Ireland. It brings Government Departments and agencies together along with representatives of both Traveller and Roma communities to bring a focus to the issues, which affect them most in a structured way. The NTRIS contains 149 actions, grouped under ten themes including Cultural Identity; Education; Employment; Health and Accommodation.
The current focus of Government is the development of the next iteration of the NTRIS, which will seek the views of a range of stakeholders to determine what should be included and prioritised in the successor to the current NITRIS. The successor NTRIS is expected to be published by end 2023.
While my Department has responsibility for central coordination of the NTRIS, each relevant Department has its own budget and is responsible for the implementation of its own commitments that impact upon Travellers and Roma, including in relation to culture, heritage and identity.
My Department has facilitated a number of projects to safeguard Traveller culture and heritage. Some examples include:
• Provision of funding to support the annual Traveller Pride Week, which enables the roll-out of national and local events. These events provide the Traveller and Roma Communities with an opportunity to promote Traveller culture, achievements and talents at both local and national level and celebrate that culture with the whole of Irish society as one community.
• In 2022, funding was provided to a publishing company, which worked directly with Traveller authors to help them develop and publish literature related to Traveller culture and experience; the aim of this initiative was to promote the inclusion of the Traveller community in the cultural life of Ireland. Further funding is being provided under this initiative in 2023.
• In September 2022, my Department committed funding to the University of Galway in respect of a Traveller cultural programme which formed part of the meeting of the Council of Europe Expert Committee on Traveller Issues, ADI-ROM, held in the University.
