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From:Department of Children, Disability and Equality

The Minister for Children, Disability and Equality, Norma Foley, today announced a major expansion of the Traveller and Roma Local Employment Initiative Pilot Scheme, with eight new local offices to be established across Dublin, Limerick, Longford, Offaly, Wexford and Waterford.

The local employment initiative was established in 2006 (as the ‘Special Initiative for Travellers’) to address the disproportionately high levels of unemployment and underemployment experienced by Travellers in Ireland. The expansion will more than double the number of TRLEI offices nationwide from six to fourteen new local offices. It will extend supports to eleven counties in total.

Minister Foley also announced the appointment of Offaly Traveller Movement as the new National TRLEI Coordinator for the expanded network, helping to share best practice and ensure a consistent approach to service delivery nationwide.

“We are more than doubling the number of local offices to support more people in the Traveller and Roma communities to develop skills, access opportunities and secure sustainable employment.

This is part of the clear commitment under the National Traveller and Roma Inclusion Strategy II to have employment and training supports that are accessible and responsive to the needs of Traveller and Roma communities.”

I also welcome the appointment of Offaly Traveller Movement as National Coordinator. The organisation has significant experience in supporting Traveller employment and training initiatives and will play an important role in supporting the delivery of the expanded network.”

According to Census 2022, the unemployment rate for Travellers aged 15-65 years was 61%, which is down from 80% in Census 2016. The unemployment rate for members of the Roma community was 17% in Census 2022, which was the first time this had been recorded.

While the increase in the number of Travellers in employment is welcome, levels of unemployment for the Traveller and Roma communities remain extremely high compared to the unemployment rate of the overall population. This underlines the barriers many Travellers and Roma face in securing employment, including discrimination in hiring processes and within the workplace and lower levels of education and literacy.

The Traveller and Roma Local Employment Initiative provides practical, locally based employment and training supports for Traveller and Roma communities. The initiative currently supports approximately 300 people each year.

The Department of Children, Disability and Equality also provides funding to an additional four organisations to support Roma employment programmes across the country. These programmes fall outside of the Traveller and Roma Local Employment Initiative but in providing targeted employment and training supports to Roma, they align with and address the same strategic objectives under NTRIS II.

These targeted, locally based supports are a key part of the actions under the National Traveller and Roma Inclusion Strategy II.

Successful applicants under the TRLEI Pilot Scheme

Limerick (including North Cork)

Dublin (Ballyfermot, Chapelizod, Palmerstown and Cherry Orchard)

Ballycommon Technology and Training Centre

Seetec Employment and Skills Ireland

Congress Information and Opportunity Centre

Galway Roscommon Education and Training Board

Clondalkin Traveller Development Group

Seetec Employment and Skills Ireland

Additional Roma Employment Programmes Supported by DCDE

Empower Local Development CLG (Fingal, Co. Dublin)

Dublin Inner City Community Cooperative Society

Roma Employment and Training Programme

County Kildare Leader Partnership

Roma Employment Support Programme

Traveller and Roma Local Employment Initiative (TRLEI)

The Department invited applications on a pilot basis to deliver the Traveller and Roma Local Employment Initiative (TRLEI) in an increased number of locations nationwide. The selection of locations was informed by a set of award criteria and the size and needs of Traveller and Roma populations in the areas concerned.

Applications were also invited for the role of National TRLEI Coordinator, which will support the Department in overseeing the expansion and effective operation of the initiative.

The application process closed on 17 June 2026.

Offaly Traveller Movement (OTM) has been appointed as National TRLEI Coordinator.

OTM has a strong track record in supporting Traveller employment and training initiatives, including delivering Ireland's only Traveller-specific Pre-Apprenticeship Programme in partnership with the Laois and Offaly Education and Training Board.