Pavee Point is disappointed Budget 2026 fails to do enough to address the systemic issues impacting Travellers and Roma in Ireland. “There are no measures to address homelessness,” said Martin Collins, Co Director, Pavee Point Traveller & Roma Centre.
“Homelessness is an issue that impacts 39% of the Traveller population, which is a young population, and we don’t see any real steps forward on this issue in this budget,” he said.
“Increases in the price of petrol and diesel will impact Travellers and Roma negatively – many of whom are already impacted greatly by energy poverty often depending on petrol operated generators to supply heat and electricity,” he said.
Although the slight increases to social welfare payments are welcome, they do not address the issues of child poverty, particularly for some of our most marginalised communities. “Many Roma are unable to access children’s allowance payments due to the Habitual Residence Condition. So this payment is not truly universal,” said Martin Collins.
“What we really need are targeted measures to provide more opportunities in education and employment and we will be looking to see what funding is ringfenced for such measures in the Traveller & Roma Education Strategy and the National Traveller & Roma Inclusion Strategy II,” said Lynsey Kavanagh, Co Director, Pavee Point.
“We welcome funding for the development of a Traveller Mental Health Action Plan that was mentioned in the budget announcement but we have an existing ambitious National Traveller Health Action Plan which is to be delivered by 2027 and addresses the social determinants impacting on Traveller health including mental health, and requires investment if we really want to make a difference to Traveller health,” added Ms. Kavanagh.
Pavee Point has actively lobbied on the continuation of the Basic Income for the Arts Scheme and we welcome the mainstreaming of this Scheme. “Culture and creativity are hugely important for Travellers who have a proud history in this area. We want Traveller and other minority ethnic artists to be targeted for inclusion in this scheme. Travellers need more role models and more opportunities generally in arts and creativity,” said Mr. Collins.
In-Depth Analysis of Budget 2026:
While Budget 2026 brings positive measures and increases in some welfare supports, it has not fully delivered on its promise of a targeted budget for the most disadvantaged. For Travellers and Roma, we welcome the commitment to fund actions under the National Traveller and Roma Inclusion Strategy (NTRIS II), as well as important funding for Traveller and Roma health, mental health, and education. However, we are deeply disappointed that the Budget fails to acknowledge or take meaningful steps to address our ever growing child poverty, homelessness, and cost of living crises.
Welcome Investments in Traveller and Roma Equality
Health
Pavee Point welcomes some positive developments and new, targeted funding for Traveller and Roma health within this Budget. This investment has the potential to address key health differentials, however, it also requires a social determinants of health approach if we are to begin to close the gap on the stark health inequalities faced by both communities.
While acknowledging these developments, we are disappointed that the National Traveller Health Action Plan did not receive any substantial investment or increase in core funding for Traveller Primary Health Care Projects. This plan is to be delivered on by next year and while there have been significant achievements in implementation, this requires further investment to be realised fully.
€500,000 has been allocated for the Brighter Beginnings programme for Traveller children, which will result in the programme extending to another 2 areas. This three-year initiative, aligned with actions in the National Traveller Health Action Plan (NTHAP), is delivered in partnership with Traveller organisations to develop culturally appropriate solutions to improve Traveller infant and child health.
€415,000 has been allocated to Traveller mental health initiatives, with a focus on suicide prevention. This funding will support the design and implementation of the Traveller Mental Health Action Plan to be developed by the Specialist Group for Traveller Mental Health, in consultation with Traveller organisations and mental health organisations.
€800,000 has been allocated to Roma Health, with a focus on the development of the Roma Health Action Plan as per NTRIS II. This investment is timely and, hopefully, the first step in establishing greater Roma access, participation and outcomes in mainstream health services across the country.
Education
Budget 2026 includes funding to support the continued roll-out of Years 2 and 3 of Equal Start (a pre-school project which targets some areas of urban disadvantage), including supports for participation of Traveller and Roma children in early learning and childcare and targeted language delay and literacy measures.
The announcement of the new scheme, DEIS+, which will accompany the existing DEIS programme aimed at reducing educational disadvantage is welcomed, as well as the government’s commitment to an increase in capitation rates paid to all schools.
An additional €286 million has been allocated to Further Education and Training and this money will focus on promoting access to education. Pavee Point is hopeful that this can support the realisation of commitments made to Traveller and Roma higher education in the National Access Plan.
Budget’s Failure to Address Child Poverty, Homelessness, and Cost of Living Crisis
The Budget has faced criticism for widening income divides, with no action to address the rising cost of living which has a disproportionate impact on Travellers, Roma and other marginalised communities. The abolition of one-off measures seen in last year’s budget will be felt by many families across the country. Unfortunately, measures announced seem to prioritise developers and the hospitality sector, while pushing carers, children and groups facing marginalisation further into poverty.
Accommodation
In a year when the number of children sleeping in emergency accommodation surpassed 5,000, 12% of whom are Traveller children, the absence of homelessness in the Budget announcement was deeply concerning. The Department of Housing’s budget has increased by €600 million compared with 2025, however, unlike last year, Traveller accommodation was not included among the specific categories of need for capital funding. This is at a time when the implementation of agreed Traveller accommodation policy continues to face challenges and Traveller and Roma families continue to live in overcrowded, poor conditions and homelessness around the country.
Child Poverty
While the Government named child poverty as a key focus of the Budget, this did not translate into meaningful reforms. While we acknowledge there were some welcome measures,Child Benefit remained the same and, although promised, the introduction of a second-tier child benefit payment failed to materialise. Research has shown that a second tier child benefit system has the potential to pull 40,000 children out of poverty. Pavee Point has long called on the State, alongside other human rights bodies and monitoring mechanisms to ensure that Child Benefit is truly a universal payment for all parents, including Roma.
Cost of Living
The carbon tax on fuels will add about 2.5 cents per litre to petrol and diesel, effective immediately, and will impact home-heating fuels from May 2026 onwards. Pavee Point recognises that carbon taxes on fuel are an important step in tackling climate change, however, considerations need to be made for Traveller families and others living in inadequate accommodation and lacking connection to the energy grid.
Budget 2026’s disability measures received particular criticism for omitting a dedicated Cost-of-Disability Payment. Recent research has revealed that a disabled household requires an extra 52%–59% disposable income to achieve the same standard of living as a non-disabled household. A €10 weekly increase to core payments is inadequate to address these additional costs.This is particularly true for disabled Travellers and Roma who contend with additional barriers to securing their rights to accommodation, healthcare, and employment.
Budget 2026 Breakdown
Health:
- €1.5 billion additional funding for health services in 2026.
- €113 million allocated for primary care, social inclusion, and palliative care services — including Traveller mental health supports (€415,000 ringfenced)
- €500,000 initial funding allocated for the Brighter Beginnings Programme for Traveller children
- Increased allocation for Public Health and Inclusion Health initiatives, including breastfeeding supports. Traveller organisations to advocate for inclusion of Traveller women, as outlined in the Pavee Mothers initiative.
- €11 million allocated to enhance Inclusion Health services and expand capacity for community-based treatment for vulnerable groups.
- 300 additional staff to be recruited for national mental health services
- Free hormone replacement therapy (HRT) continues.
- IVF scheme expansion to continue using funds allocated in Budget 2025.
Education:
- €13.6 billion total education budget, with emphasis on reducing early school leaving and improving inclusion supports
- Free school books up to Leaving Cert maintained
- 1,500 additional special needs assistants (SNAs) and 350 new special classes
- Wider eligibility for student grants, €500 reduction in university fees and reduction in apprenticeship fees
- Traveller and Roma Education Strategy (TRES) referenced in inclusion policy commitments but no dedicated budget line identified
- Back-to-School Clothing & Footwear Allowance extension to 2- and 3-year-olds.
- Hot school meals to be extended to all primary schools by end of 2026
Families and household/ Child poverty/ Social Welfare:
- All core social welfare payments to increase by €10 per week
- Increased income disregard in Carer’s Allowance: the disregard (€1000 pm for singles, €2000 pm for couples)
- Fuel Allowance increase of €5 per week, expanded to include families who are in receipt of the Working Family Payment (WFP)
- Working Family Payment thresholds raised by €60/week for all families, which can help low-income households.
- October double payment and Christmas bonus payment for welfare recipients to continue
- Pay-Related Benefit scheme expanded for jobseekers with strong work histories
- Domiciliary Care Allowance increased by €20/month.
- No targeted energy credits for households in 2026. Reduced VAT on gas and electricity to remain until 2030
- Child Support Payment (formerly Qualified Child Increase) to rise by €8 per week for children under 12, and by €16 per week for children aged 12 and over
- €300 million package for child and family supports aimed at reducing consistent child poverty below 3%.
Employment:
- National Minimum Wage to rise by €1.00, from €13.50 to €14.50 per hour
- Auto-enrolment pension scheme rollout confirmed for 30 September 2025, continuing into 2026
Accommodation and Housing:
- €11.3 billion housing package announced
- No new allocation for Traveller-specific accommodation or halting site retrofitting
- Local authority spending on Traveller accommodation not referenced or monitored in Budget 2026
- Rent tax credit which was due to run out this year will now be extended to the end of 2028
- 10,200 new build social homes and 25,000 new homes overall targeted
- €165 million Vacant Property Refurbishment Grant extended
- Help-to-Buy scheme extended to 2029
Climate and Energy:
- Carbon tax increased to €71 per tonne. This will add about 2.5 cents per litre to petrol and diesel, effective immediately and will impact home heating fuels from May 2026 onwards
- 9% VAT rate on gas and electricity extended until 2030
- Accelerated Capital Allowances for energy-efficient equipment and vehicles extended to 2030
- No targeted retrofitting measures for rental properties or Traveller specific accommodation.
Tax measures:
- Reduction in the 2% Universal Social Charge rate ceiling increased by €1,318
- USC concession for medical card holders extended to 31 December 2027
- Rent Tax Credit extended to 31 December 2028
- Mortgage Interest Tax Relief extended to 31 December 2026, with a reduced level of relief in 2026
- VAT rate on gas and electricity of 9% extended until 31 December 2030
- VAT on food, catering and hairdressing reduced to 9% from July 2026
- Excise Duty increased by €0.50 on a pack of 20 cigarettes
- Carbon tax increased by €7.50 per tonne, from €63.50 to €71