Nearly half of Ireland’s Traveller population reside in counties that lack any Traveller-specific youth projects receiving funding, according to a new mapping survey, reports Breaking News.
The Irish Traveller Movement (ITM) launched the survey, prompting Traveller organisations to push for a more accurate mapping of youth work funding to support one of the country’s most marginalised youth groups.
Most youth work programmes are supported by the Department of Children’s UBU scheme, which focuses on vulnerable, marginalised, and disadvantaged youth, reports Breaking News.
But the ITM survey revealed that several counties with large Traveller populations – including Cork, Limerick, and Wexford – do not have any UBU-funded youth programmes specifically for Travellers.
According to the findings, while Traveller organisations are generally more proactive than mainstream youth services in engaging young people, over half do not receive any financial backing for youth work, reports Breaking News.
The report, titled Mapping Youth Work for Travellers in Ireland, compiled data from 93 groups: 67 mainstream services and 26 Traveller-specific organisations.
The ITM, a national advocacy group representing Traveller organisations across Ireland, said the survey demonstrates the need for young Travellers to access culturally appropriate youth work spaces—whether through Traveller-dedicated projects or within broader youth services.
Rose Marie Maughan, who leads the ITM’s National Traveller Youth Programme, stated: “The decision-making and allocation of youth work funding should respond to the fact that Traveller youth are a key target group who have a high level of tailored needs due to decades of social exclusion and experiencing anti-Traveller racism in all aspects of their young lives. It should allocate funds accounting for the population of Travellers per county, based on the Annual Counts of Travellers, as well as within the context of the broader youth population,” reports Breaking News.
“For example, the survey found Connaught received an allocation of just 7% of the UBU funding, while 17% of Travellers live in the province. This needs to change and be better targeted so that the needs of young Travellers are met. ITM is calling on the UBU programme to resource Traveller youth workers in all counties. And also for positive recruitment of Traveller youth workers in mainstream youth work services, in order to increase engagement with the local Traveller organisations,” reports Breaking News.
Ms Maughan also said the ITM is eager to collaborate with stakeholders to address the findings and put the recommendations into action through its National Traveller Youth Programme.
The study identified educational disadvantage as the most pressing issue for young Travellers, cited by 52% of Traveller organisations and 45% of mainstream groups, reports Breaking News.
At the launch, Brian Byrne from Laois Traveller Action Group, who works in community development and youth services, described the powerful effect of specialised youth programmes.
“Young Travellers face significant barriers in education, employment and social inclusion,” he said, reports Breaking News.
“Without proper investment, we risk leaving another generation behind. Youth work provides not just support, but also hope, opportunity and a sense of belonging. Laois Traveller Action Group is proud to highlight the story of Dolly Nevin, a young Traveller woman whose life has been transformed through youth work. Dolly is now a strong and inspiring voice for change in her community,” reports Breaking News.
At the same event, Ms Nevin shared: “Youth work gave me the support and space I needed to believe in myself.”
“It helped me realise that I could make a difference, not just in my own life, but in the lives of others too. Young Travellers face so many challenges – discrimination, lack of opportunity and barriers in education and employment. Youth work gives us a chance to be heard, to grow, and to lead. Youth work changes lives. I’m living proof of that,” reports Breaking News.
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