Ireland

EU funding for Roma integration

For the 2021-2027 period, Ireland will be allocated a total of just over €900 million from the European Social Fund Plus (ESF+) and European Regional Development Fund (ERDF). At least 56% of this amount will be spent on the ESF+ with at least 25% of that going towards the promotion of active inclusion and social integration. The latter amount could also be used for Roma-related measures. In addition, at least 3% of the ESF+ amount will be spent on support for the most deprived.

Communication in 2015 on the implementation of the EU framework for national Roma integration strategies

Contacts

ESF+ managing authority

Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science, Block 1, Marlborough Street, Dublin 1: Employment, Inclusion, Skills and Training (EIST) Programme 2021-2027

List of relevant ERDF managing authorities

• Northern & Western Regional Assembly, The Square, Ballaghaderreen, Co. Roscommon: Northern and Western Regional Programme 2021-2027
• Southern Regional Assembly, Assembly House, O'Connell Street, Co. Waterford: Southern, Eastern & Midland Regional Programme 2021-2027

For more information on Ireland's EU programmes, see www.eufunds.ie 

Facts and figures

In Ireland, the most recent Census figures (Census 2022) indicate that the number of Irish Travellers living in the State was 32, 949 and increase of 6% from 30,987 in the 2016 Census. Irish Travellers make up less than 1% of the population.

Roma ethnicity was included in the Irish Census for the first time in 2022. The population of Roma as enumerated by the 2022 Census is 16,059.

National strategy for Roma integration

Ireland’s National Traveller and Roma Inclusion Strategy 2024 – 2028 (NTRIS II) is a whole-of-government approach that brings together Government departments and agencies along with representatives of both Traveller and Roma communities. It contains 9 themes, including; Racism and Discrimination, Gender Equality, Children and Youth. Gender Equality, Health and Wellbeing, Employment and Enterprise, Accommodation, Education, Culture, Heritage and Identity, and Participation, Empowerment, Cooperation and Accountability. The aim of the Strategy is to improve the lives of Traveller and Roma communities. It is overseen by a Steering Committee, chaired at Ministerial level, which includes Traveller and Roma representatives and civil society organisations as well as Government departments and agencies.

Ireland's National Traveller and Roma Inclusion Strategy II 2024 - 2028 (NTRIS II)

Assessment of Ireland’s strategy implementation

In 2014 the Commission assessed the implementation of the national Roma integration strategies in the 4 key areas of education, employment, healthcare and housing, as well as in the fight against discrimination and the use of funding.

• The Commission's assessment of Ireland’s national strategy (2014)
• The Commission's assessment of Ireland’s national strategy (2012)
• The European Union and the Roma – factsheet Ireland

National Roma contact point

The contact point for the national Roma integration strategy in Ireland is the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth.

Contact persons: Sinead McEvoy - Sinead [dot] McEvoyequality [dot] gov [dot] ie (Sinead[dot]McEvoy[at]equality[dot]gov[dot]ie ;) Conor McGinn - Conor [dot] McGinnequality [dot] gov [dot] ie (Conor[dot]McGinn[at]equality[dot]gov[dot]ie ; )Patrica Ballantine - Patricia [dot] Ballantineequality [dot] gov [dot] ie (Patricia[dot]Ballantine[at]equality[dot]gov[dot]ie)