Some positive commitments in health, social welfare, and education, but Budget 2027 has significant gaps in accommodation, childcare, and employment.
(8 October) Pavee Point welcomes a number of targeted and mainstreaming measures for Travellers, Roma, and other marginalised groups in Budget 2027, including in health and education. However, long-term ambition is still required to fully deliver on the promise of a targeted budget for the most marginalised.
For Travellers and Roma, we welcome the commitment to fund actions under the National Traveller and Roma Inclusion Strategy (NTRIS II), alongside important funding for Traveller health, mental health, and education. However, we are disappointed that the Budget fails to acknowledge or take meaningful steps to address the growing child poverty, homelessness, and cost of living crises.
Positive developments in Traveller health
Budget 2027 saw an increase in investment in Traveller health, with an additional €2.5million investment in new recurring funding to support Traveller Health Worker pay parity, workforce planning, mental health and child health.
“We are pleased that key commitments by both Minister to support Traveller PHCTPs were delivered in Budget 2027, through the allocation of additional recurring €1million for Traveller Primary Healthcare Workers. We see this as a starting point in which needs to be further built on, giving the overwhelming evidence that proves the value and the vital role that projects play for our community and the wider health and public sector.” Mary Brigid Collins, PHCTP Co-Ordinator, Pavee Point.
This is something Pavee Point and other Traveller organisations/PHCTPs have long advocated for and aligns with recommendations from the recent PHCTP review. Also welcome is the additional funding for extension of Traveller Brighter Beginnings to two remaining regions and recurring €1 million for targeted suicide prevention initiative for Travellers under the the National Traveller Mental Health Action Plan.
No reference to Roma health within Budget 2027 is disappointing given the commitment to develop a comprehensive Roma Health Action Plan by the end of the year.
Budget 2027 also commits €7m to commence the implementation of the forthcoming National Drugs Strategy 2026-2030, with a further €1.5m to expand existing drug initiatives which is welcome given the disproportionate impact of drugs on Traveller families across Ireland.
“While we welcome these steps, they must be part of a holistic approach that includes infrastructure. Investment in drug strategies must be matched by investment in our living conditions. We are leaving our most marginalised families behind and creating a barrier to the success of these health initiatives. We cannot expect to effectively tackle drug-related harms while families are living in substandard, insecure accommodation.” John Paul Collins, Drugs and Alcohol Programme, Pavee Point .
We are disappointed that measures announced for housing accommodation do little to tackle the root causes of homelessness and insecure housing/accommodation for those most marginalised and disproportionately impacted, including Travellers and Roma. This is in at time where we are seeing record numbers of homeless families, including those with children all around the country and despite the Government’s own commitments to tackle child poverty.
We welcome continued funding for the National Traveller and Roma Inclusion Strategy (NTRIS II) 2024–2028 and in education. An additional €2 million to the DEIS Plus programme will be of direct benefit to Traveller and Roma students at primary and post-primary level, as will the addition of Home School Community Liaison (HSCL) coordinators: strengthening the link between schools and Traveller and Roma families. The permanent reduction of third-level undergraduate registration fees to €2,350 marks a positive step, and the 4.5% boost to SUSI grant rates is also welcome. These measures have the potential to strengthen engagement, improve educational outcomes and tackle educational disadvantage for children at risk of exclusion, including Traveller and Roma children and young people. However, targeted and sustained investment is needed to ensure these measures effectively address the persistent inequalities experienced by Traveller and Roma children and young people across the education system.
Although minimal increases to social welfare payments and the National Minimum Wage are welcome, they do not address the issues of the cost of living pressures and child poverty, particularly for some of the most marginalised families, including many Roma families, who are unable to access children’s allowance payments due to the Habitual Residence Condition.
Pavee Point actively lobbied on the investment in Basic Income for the Arts Scheme and we welcome the further investment in the scheme with €34.4 million allocated for a full year of income support for artists.
A full analysis of Budget 2027 to follow.
Health
‣ €2.5million new funding targeted investment in Traveller Health
‣ €1 million investment in Traveller Community Health Workforce to improve working conditions, develop pathways to accredited training and implementation of the NTHAP
‣ €1 million for Traveller suicide prevention measures & support for the forthcoming National Traveller Mental Health Action Plan
‣ €500,000 to extend the Brighter Beginnings Traveller child health initiative to the HSE Mid-West and HSE South West regions
‣ €3.45 million to expand access to drug and alcohol services across HSE health regions
‣ €700,00 Drug and alcohol prevention funding for children and young people in education, youth and community organisations, including targeted measures for marginalised groups
Social protection
‣ €10 increase in weekly social welfare payments
‣ New €500 Cost of Disability payment in receipt of long-term disability payments, to be followed process to develop a permanent payment from 2028
‣ Fuel Allowance increase by €5 per week
‣ Living Alone Allowance increase by €3 per week
‣ Child benefit increase by €6 per week
‣ Working Family Payment income thresholds rise by €30 per week
Accommodation
‣ 11.92 billion package announced, a 10.9% increase from last year
‣ No new allocation for Traveller-specific accommodation or halting site retrofitting
‣ Local authority spending on Traveller accommodation not referenced or monitored in Budget 2027
‣ €3 billion will social housing delivery in 2027
‣ Increased funding allocation of €593m to support homeless services
Education/Childcare
‣ Maximum childcare fees to decrease from €735 to €550 per month
‣ €2 million to expand of the DEIS Plus scheme
‣ Permanent reduction to the student contribution fee of €150
Arts
‣ €34.4 million will provide a full year of income support for artists through the Basic Income for the Arts Scheme.