Traveller Education: Just 13% of Traveller children complete second-level education

Pavee Point has called for college scholarships and for earlier interventions in second level to keep Traveller children in school.

They were among several suggestions made at a national seminar in Cork yesterday to break down the barriers Irish Travellers face while progressing to higher education.

Hilary Harmon, Pavee Point’s education co-ordinator, said there are just over 36,000 Travellers living in Ireland today — with almost 74% living in a house and 42% under the age of 15. However, just 13% of Traveller children complete second-level education, compared to 92% in the settled community.