Poverty and social exclusion continue to be major challenges for Traveller and Roma communities in Ireland, according to a survey which also highlights high levels of discrimination against Travellers.
The study was carried out by Pavee Point Traveller and Roma Centre, which interviewed 415 Travellers and 106 Roma in 2024. It is the second survey of its kind conducted for the European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights (FRA), reports RTE.
Surveys were carried out across 13 European countries, with the results published by the FRA in October last year. Pavee Point is presenting the Irish findings today.
The results show progress in areas such as health, education and employment for Travellers in Ireland compared to 2019; however, life expectancy for Traveller and Roma women is almost eight years lower than the general population, and almost 11 years lower for Traveller and Roma men, reports RTE.
Three-quarters of Travellers in Ireland said they experienced discrimination in the year before the survey, representing a 10% rise compared to the FRA survey carried out in 2019.
Despite improvements in health and education since 2019, 39% of Travellers in Ireland said they felt discriminated against when accessing healthcare, reports RTE.
Six in ten members of the Roma community in Ireland said they experienced discrimination in the year before the survey, while just 5% said they reported this discrimination to an official body.
The survey found that 97% of Traveller children and 96% of Roma children are at risk of poverty, while 41% of Roma are living in severe material deprivation, reports RTE.
It also found that 42% of Travellers are experiencing housing deprivation, with 63% living in overcrowded conditions, while 74% said they felt discriminated against when seeking housing in Ireland.
Among the Roma community, 34% reported living in housing deprivation, with extremely high overcrowding levels of 92%, reports RTE.
On a more positive note, the survey recorded an increase in Traveller children enrolled in early childhood education, rising from 64% to 68% between 2019 and 2024.
It also showed a 5% increase in the number of Travellers aged 20 to 24 who have completed the Leaving Certificate, increasing to 27%, compared with 97% of the general population, reports RTE.
Among Roma children, 33% were enrolled in early childhood education, while 37% of Roma aged 20 to 24 had completed at least the Leaving Certificate.
There has also been a 7% increase in the number of Travellers in paid employment, now standing at 22%, compared with 79% of the general population, while 49% of Roma are in paid work, reports RTE.
The survey found that 84% of Travellers in Ireland felt discriminated against when looking for work, and 65% of young Travellers are neither in employment, education nor training, compared with 7% of young people in the general population.
Data for the Irish survey was collected by peer researchers working within local Traveller organisations and groups supporting Roma communities, using a methodology developed by Pavee Point over the past 40 years, reports RTE.
Pavee Point said the findings show that some progress has been made, but that greater urgency, accountability and ambition are required in Ireland and elsewhere so that the European Union “truly reflects a union of equality in all its Member States including Ireland.”
Pavee Point Co-Director Martin Collins said the survey shows that as minority ethnic groups, Travellers and Roma continue to experience racism and discrimination based on ethnicity and other intersecting factors, reports RTE.
“In the context of increases in incidences of hate speech and growing far-right mobilisations, these findings require robust responses,” he said.
“In order to achieve equality for Travellers and Roma, particular attention is needed to address the structural inequalities and racism that impact on them, across all areas, including education, employment, poverty, and health,” he said, reports RTE.
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