Thursday, Oct 22 — Martin Collins and Winnie McDonnell addressed the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Key Issues affecting the Traveller Community to discuss the topic of employment, including recruitment and retention in Traveller Primary Health Care Projects, and the outstanding Traveller and Roma Training, Employment and Enterprise Plan as committed to in NTRIS.
A 2024 survey of Travellers in Ireland by the European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights (FRA) reported that just 22% of Travellers in Ireland were in paid employment, finding that 84% of Travellers reported experiencing discrimination when looking for work and 34% reported discrimination in the workplace.
Last year our report — Beyond the Poverty Trap — pointed to a fragmented employment system for Traveller primary healthcare workers and raised urgent concerns around pay gaps (earning on average just €150 per week), unpaid working hours, and barriers to medical card retention. These findings were endorsed by a subsequent national review of Primary Healthcare for Travellers Projects by the Department of Health and HSE.
Read : Opening statement, Winnie McDonnell, Training Coordinator, Pavee Point Traveller and Roma Centre
Read: Opening statement, Martin Collins, Co-Director, Pavee Point Traveller and Roma Centre