Census 2016  – Hard Evidence of the Inequalities Faced by Irish Travellers

Pavee Point welcomes the hard evidence in Census 2016 figures released today of the continuing inequalities faced by Irish Travellers.

“These inequalities cannot continue to be ignored,”  said Ronnie Fay, Co Director Pavee Point.

“These figures show the huge gaps that continue to exist in Traveller health, education, employment and accommodation.”

“Travellers are dying 6 times younger and are poorer educated than the general population.  With low education achievement  it’s no surprise we’re living with an 80% unemployment figure,” said Martin Collins Co Director, Pavee Point.

“Seven times more Travellers are living in overcrowded situations than the general population. And significant numbers of Travellers are being forced out of the private rental sector, ” he said.

“Given these realities we are deeply concerned that there was no increased allocation announced in Budget 2018 for the implementation of the recently published National Traveller and Roma Inclusion Strategy (NTRIS).

“Without the proper resources for implementation NTRIS is reduced to a mere wish list,” said Ms. Fay.

“We need urgent focus on implementing policy on Traveller employment, education, accommodation and health,” she said.

However, today’s figures on ethnicity and cultural background reflect the important work that Pavee Point has done, in conjunction with the CSO, in ethnic data collection in a human rights context.

“The fact that there was a 5% increase in the numbers of Travellers self-identifying in Census 2016 shows the work we did in developing an understanding and trust ethnic data collection is paying off,” said Ms. Fay.

Census 2016 and Irish Travellers:

• Less than 3% of Travellers are over 65 years – a figure 6 times less than the general population

• Traveller unemployment is at 80% – a slight reduction from 84% at the last Census

• Just 13.3 of Traveller girls educated to upper secondary school level compared to 69% of the general population

• Nearly 7 times more overcrowded living conditions among Travellers

• There are 2,257 fewer Traveller households in the private rented sector compared to Census 2011.

For a more in-depth breakdown of figures please see here.