Information on the Roma in the case of Ireland

Although we recognise Roma as an umbrella term, we have referred to Travellers and Roma throughout the report – in order to clearly identify differing experiences. Travellers refers to the approx. 35,000 Irish Travellers living in Ireland, who were officially recognised as a minority ethnic group in 2017. Roma refers to those who identify as Roma in Ireland, approx. 4,000-5,000 people. This includes migrants and second and third generation Roma, many of whom are Irish citizens.

Key problems:

In 2017 Travellers and Roma continue to be among the most marginalised groups in Ireland. Census 2016 found that 13.3% of Traveller females were educated to upper
secondary level or above, compared with almost 69.1% of the general population. A 2017 report using data from Census 2011 reveals unemployment rate of 82% among
Travellers aged 25–64 years, compared to 17% for non-Travellers. A survey conducted with Travellers in 2017 suggests that many Travellers feel that their situation has
regressed.3 69% of respondents had been affected by suicide in their immediate or wider family. A National Needs Assessment of Roma in Ireland found that approx. 10% of respondents are living in extreme poverty, in sub-standard accommodation, with no bathroom, kitchen or cooker. For this group of respondents accommodation is overcrowded, with reports of rats, damp and sewerage problems. Approximately 50% of respondents reported not always having enough food, fuel or being able to keep their house warm all the time.

Roma Civil Monitor Coordinators:

NGO coalition members:

RCM 1 (2017-2020) Ireland Reports:

Roma Civil Monitor (2017) Civil society monitoring report on implementation of the national Roma integration strategies in Ireland: Focusing on structural and horizontal preconditions for successful implementation of the strategy. ENGLISH

Roma Civil Monitor (2018) Civil society monitoring report on implementation of the national Roma integration strategy in Ireland: Assessing the progress in four key policy areas of the strategy ENGLISH

Roma Civil Monitor (2019) Civil society monitoring report on implementation of the national Roma integration strategy in Ireland: Identifying blind spots in Roma inclusion policy  ENGLISH