Summary of Key Recommendations

– Introduce an ethnic identifier across all administrative systems in line with the human rights framework in order to develop responsive and adequate inclusion policies, and monitor and assess their impact on Traveller and Roma children.

– Develop a National Action Plan against Racism and Discrimination as a matter of urgency with strong civil society involvement at all stages in the development and implementation of the plan.

– Ensure no child is taken into State care solely on grounds relating to poor housing conditions or the financial situation of his or her family. Take appropriate measures to ensure Traveller and Roma children are not taken into care on the basis of racial profiling.

– Conduct a comprehensive enquiry into racial profiling in An Garda Síochána and introduce legislation to prohibit racial profiling by An Garda Síochána and other statutory agencies.

– Develop a new National Traveller Health Strategy, using the social determinants of health approach with clear targets, objectives, dedicated budget, clear timeframes and responsibilities building on the findings of the All-Ireland Traveller Health Study in partnership with Traveller representative organisations.

– Development of targeted interventions to address mental health and promote self-esteem for young Travellers of both sexes.

– Ensure access to basic healthcare for Roma children in Ireland.

– Develop a primary healthcare project for Roma to increase access to healthcare services.

– Ensure that Local Authorities fulfil their obligations in relation to Traveller accommodation and sanctions are applied when obligations are not met.

– Undertake an evaluation on the impact of the withdrawal of Traveller specific education supports.

– Develop an implementation plan with associated timelines, key deliverables and a monitoring and evaluation framework for the Report and Recommendations for a Traveller Education Strategy in partnership with Traveller representative organisations.

– Training on the Traveller and Roma community, and intercultural approaches should be a compulsory component of initial teacher education and continuous professional developments for primary and post primary teachers and early year practitioners.

– Traveller and Roma culture and history should be embedded in the formal curriculum.

– State should ensure that incidents of identity based bullying are recorded in schools and these records are inspected as part of the whole school evaluation process.

– The State should repeal the Housing (Miscellaneous) Provisions Act 2002 and provide more culturally appropriate housing and transient accommodation for Travellers in order to respect their housing and cultural rights.

– The State should recognise Travellers as a minority ethnic group as a matter of urgency.

– Develop and implement a progressive National Traveller and Roma Integration Strategy, in line with human rights commitments. The development, implementation and monitoring of the strategy should be undertaken in partnership with Traveller and Roma representative organisations.

– Invest in and conduct a review and impact assessment of the habitual residence condition particularly in relation to ethnicity and gender.