Pavee Point welcomes the publication of the Traveller and Roma Education Strategy (TRES) Second Plan for Implementation and Action 2026–2028; the plan sets out the Government’s priorities for improving educational participation, experiences and outcomes for Travellers and Roma over the next two years.
Building on the foundations established through the first Action Plan, the second plan places greater emphasis on embedding and expanding effective initiatives, improving participation and progression, tackling racism and exclusion, strengthening Roma-specific measures, and improving data, monitoring and accountability.
The Action Plan covers the full education continuum, from early years through to further and higher education, Key areas of focus include increasing Traveller and Roma participation in early learning, culturally relevant literacy resources, teacher training and anti-racism, attendance and retention, transitions between education stages, progression to further and higher education, and targeted measures for Roma.
There are a number of positive developments in the plan, including a stronger focus on Roma-specific actions, the pilot of Roma peer support roles, improved Traveller and Roma cultural resources, continued investment in participation initiatives, and a greater emphasis on ethnicity data.
However, the scale of the educational inequalities facing Travellers and Roma means that implementation will be the critical test of the second Action Plan. Significant gaps remain in participation, attendance, retention and progression, particularly at post-primary level and in progression to further and higher education. The Action Plan therefore needs to move beyond establishing structures and initiatives towards demonstrating measurable improvements in outcomes and educational experiences.
The key issue now is implementation. Progress should not be measured simply by how many actions are completed, but by whether those actions are contributing to sustained improvements in educational equality. The plan provides a framework for change. The priority now is making sure that change happens – with Traveller and Roma voices at the centre, clear responsibility, adequate resources and meaningful accountability.
Read the TRES Second Plan for Implementation and Action 2026–2028 here: https://assets.gov.ie/static/documents/341d8de4/TRES_plan_for_implementation_2026-2028.pdf