Traveller and Roma Education Strategy 2024-2030
The Department of Education has developed a new Traveller and Roma Education Strategy (TRES) 2024-2030 which is part of the wider National Traveller and Roma Inclusion Strategy (NTRIS). The strategy is designed to enhance the educational experience of children, young people and adults from the Traveller and Roma and is intended to provide direction for the whole education system, from Early Years through to higher and lifelong education. The strategy sees collaboration between the Department of Education, Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth (DCEDIY) and the Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science.
The importance of the strategy
Traveller and Roma young children are among the most disadvantaged and marginalised in Ireland. This strategy recognises that disadvantage in early life can have long term impacts on a child’s development, as well as their opportunities and social inclusion. It is essential therefore to ensure that children from all backgrounds can access and participate in high quality Early Years (EY) and school age childcare (SAC).
Current data
Figures from 2022 show that 74 per cent of Traveller children enrolled in the Early Childhood Care and Education programme (ECCE) went on to primary school compared with 64.7 per cent of Roma children and 95.7 per cent of white-Irish children. The national average percentage of pupils continuing from primary to post-primary education in 2023/24 was 95.6 per cent, compared with an average of 82.7 per cent for Traveller children. The rate of transfer of Roma children from primary to post-primary before the pandemic was 97.8 per cent, which dropped to 89.1 per cent in 2023/24.
Fewer Traveller children and young people complete post-primary school than the rest of the population. The number of Travellers sitting the Leaving Certificate has increased by 9 per cent over the last six years but remains low at 31.4 per cent compared to 91.7 per cent of the total cohort. While figures from 2022 show that the number of Travellers with a third-level qualification is increasing, only 4.7 per cent of Travellers completed their third level education compared to 47.7 per cent of the general population.
Intentions for the strategy
The strategy contains an overarching commitment to improve communications between the education system and the Traveller and Roma communities. For Early Years, the key focus of the strategy is for equal participation in the ECCE programme for Traveller and Roma children. At school level, the key focus is to improve the learning experience and attainment levels for all Traveller and Roma children and young people but particularly to significantly increase the numbers of young people remaining in school to 6th year and completing the Leaving Certificate. For the tertiary system, the aim of this strategy is to have the diversity of Ireland’s population reflected in further and higher education and to provide the necessary supports to ensure that everyone, regardless of background or education, can access education without barriers.
Strategic pillars and strategic actions
The strategic actions relating to EY and SAC in this document are underpinned by the DCEDIY’s Equal Start model. The strategy is built around four strategic pillars. A desired outcome and related strategic actions have been identified for each pillar, designed to achieve the strategic goal, as can be seen in the table below.
| Outcome | |
| 1. Participation and experience | Meaningful participation across the continuum of education for all Travellers and Roma in an inclusive education system where all Travellers and Roma are respected, and their cultures and ethnic identities are acknowledged, visible and valued. |
| 2. Access and outcomes | Equity of access, opportunity and outcome across the continuum of education for all Travellers and Roma in an inclusive education system where Travellers and Roma are supported to engage and to fulfil their potential.
|
| 3. Partnership | Successful delivery of the strategy and achievement of its goal through active collaboration and partnership. |
| 4. Delivering Change | Progress on achieving the goal of the TRES is closely monitored and publicly reported. A monitoring and evaluation framework is established with evidence informed targets and statement of expected outcome. |
Implementation
The first two-year implementation plan is published alongside this strategy. The 2024 to 2026 Plan for implementation and action sets out a series of actions to be achieved by mid year 2026, including the establishment of new coordinator roles to work on the delivery of actions in the implementation plan. For EY and SAC, this includes the new Equal Start funding model and the introduction of new link workers and coordinator roles in EY and SAC settings. For the school sector, this includes the identification of new coordinator roles to drive the implementation of the strategy.
Conclusion
A TRES Oversight Group will be established to monitor the progress of the strategy, using the implementation plan. To ensure ongoing consultation with the Traveller and Roma organisations and individuals from the Traveller and Roma communities, a Traveller and Roma Education Forum will be established. In order to continue the meaningful participation of Traveller and Roma children and young people, a specific consultation and engagement plan will be developed in consultation with this group.
You can read the strategy and implementation plan in full on gov.ie. We will continue to monitor the progress of the Strategy as part of our policy monitoring work. If you have any questions or queries about our work, please contact [email protected].
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Managing Garda Vetting Applications
Garda Vetting Tracking Dashboard
Managing Garda Vetting applications is an essential part of maintaining a safe, compliant environment for your settings — but it doesn’t have to feel overwhelming. To support you, Early Childhood Ireland provides a comprehensive Garda Vetting Tracking Dashboard, giving you instant visibility of every application linked to your service.
This dashboard centralises all your vetting activity, helping you stay organised, monitor progress, and confidently manage the three‑year re‑vetting cycle with timely oversight.
Getting Started: How to Access Your Dashboard
To view and manage your Garda Vetting applications:
- Log in to the Early Childhood Ireland website
- Go to My Account space
- Select the Garda Vetting Dashboard
Reminder: If your organisation operates across multiple sites, and you use different Membership or Garda Vetting user numbers, ensure you are logged into the correct account. Only applications associated with that specific membership number will appear.
What Your Dashboard Shows
Your dashboard displays all applications submitted to Early Childhood Ireland for processing. Once an application is submitted, it is essential that the designated Garda Vetting contact for your service checks their email inbox — or returns to the dashboard — 24 hours after submission to confirm receipt of application.
Please note:
- Applications submitted on a Friday evening or over the weekend will not receive confirmation emails until the following Monday.
- If you do not receive a confirmation email and the applicant does not appear on your dashboard after 24 hours, the submission was not successful. You will need to resubmit, ensuring the “thank you” screen appears after clicking ‘Submit’.
When an application is successfully received, your dashboard will display:
- The ECI reference number (application ID)
- The applicant’s full name
These details of the applicant remain visible until the National Vetting Bureau (NVB) completes the vetting process.
Tracking Your Applications with Ease
Within the ‘Current Applications’ section of your Garda Vetting dashboard, you will find a direct link to the Garda Vetting Application Tracker. This takes you straight to the NVB tracking page — no extra steps required.
Why Use the NVB Tracker?
The NVB tracker provides:
- Real‑time status updates throughout the vetting process
- 24/7 access to application progress
- Fast, reliable checks whenever you need clarity
Have these two pieces of information ready:
- The Application ID / ECI reference number
- The applicant’s date of birth
Understanding What You See on the Tracker
Once the tracker loads the application, it will display the current stage of the vetting process. It is normal for a status to remain unchanged for several days, as updates are not issued daily.
If the tracker displays an error:
- First, ensure all details entered are correct
- You can copy and paste the required information directly from the Early Childhood Ireland dashboard
- If the error continues, you may need to clear your device’s cookies and try again
If you are unsure what certain terms or stages mean, clear explanations of each step in the vetting process are available in our Garda Vetting FAQs, under “How can I track an application I have submitted for a staff member?”
Keep in Mind: Current Application Processing Times
As processing times for Garda Vetting have increased, having a forward‑looking approach is key to avoiding delays as the NVB processes applications in chronological order. The following guidance will help you understand the updated timelines and plan both recruitment and re‑vetting with confidence
Standard applications:
- 15–20 working days (previously shorter)
Note: Around 20% may take longer
- 15–20 working days (previously shorter)
Applications with EU address history:
- Add up to 10 extra working days
Total: approx. 25–30 working days
- Add up to 10 extra working days
Applications with UK address history:
- Add up to 20 extra working days
Total: approx. 35–40 working days
- Add up to 20 extra working days
Important Reminders:
- Timelines begin only after the applicant receives, completes, and submits their NVB link.
- Re‑vetting follows the same process and timelines as new applications.
- Early Childhood Ireland cannot prioritise or expedite applications, as all applications are processed in chronological order by the NVB.
Avoiding Delays: Practical Steps for Validators
Follow up with applicants to confirm they have:
- Received the NVB link after you submit their details to Early Childhood Ireland
- They can access the link sent via the NVB
- Completed and submitted the NVB link correctly
Common issues that stop the process from starting:
- Incorrect email address or date of birth submitted
- Application not received by Early Childhood Ireland (no confirmation email received and not visible on your dashboard after 24 hours).
- Action: Resubmit and ensure the “thank you” screen appears on submission.
Accuracy checks to share and remind your applicants:
- Answer the mandatory questions correctly:
- Have you previously lived in another EU member state country or UK country, other than Ireland? — The answer must match the address history/birthplace provided by the applicant
- Does the role involve working with children — must reflect the role applied for
- If either is completed incorrectly, the link is cancelled and reissued to the applicant with the issue outlined and how to amend
- Complete address history from birth to current in chronological order, with:
- House/apartment number, street, town/city, country, Eircode/postcode (if available)
- Use the country drop‑down menu to avoid errors
Best practice:
- Ensure online details match the NVB1 and Identity Document Validation Form exactly
- Share the Applicant User Guide (created by the NVB) to reduce errors and cancellations
- Start the re‑vetting process 2–3 months before disclosure expiry to avoid disruption
Helpful Information
Practical Tools and Resources to Guide Affiliates:
Making the News: A Spotlight on the 2026 Barometer
Share this post
More to explore
Updated Progress Report on First 5
Managing Garda Vetting Applications
Garda Vetting Tracking Dashboard
Managing Garda Vetting applications is an essential part of maintaining a safe, compliant environment for your settings — but it doesn’t have to feel overwhelming. To support you, Early Childhood Ireland provides a comprehensive Garda Vetting Tracking Dashboard, giving you instant visibility of every application linked to your service.
This dashboard centralises all your vetting activity, helping you stay organised, monitor progress, and confidently manage the three‑year re‑vetting cycle with timely oversight.
Getting Started: How to Access Your Dashboard
To view and manage your Garda Vetting applications:
- Log in to the Early Childhood Ireland website
- Go to My Account space
- Select the Garda Vetting Dashboard
Reminder: If your organisation operates across multiple sites, and you use different Membership or Garda Vetting user numbers, ensure you are logged into the correct account. Only applications associated with that specific membership number will appear.
What Your Dashboard Shows
Your dashboard displays all applications submitted to Early Childhood Ireland for processing. Once an application is submitted, it is essential that the designated Garda Vetting contact for your service checks their email inbox — or returns to the dashboard — 24 hours after submission to confirm receipt of application.
Please note:
- Applications submitted on a Friday evening or over the weekend will not receive confirmation emails until the following Monday.
- If you do not receive a confirmation email and the applicant does not appear on your dashboard after 24 hours, the submission was not successful. You will need to resubmit, ensuring the “thank you” screen appears after clicking ‘Submit’.
When an application is successfully received, your dashboard will display:
- The ECI reference number (application ID)
- The applicant’s full name
These details of the applicant remain visible until the National Vetting Bureau (NVB) completes the vetting process.
Tracking Your Applications with Ease
Within the ‘Current Applications’ section of your Garda Vetting dashboard, you will find a direct link to the Garda Vetting Application Tracker. This takes you straight to the NVB tracking page — no extra steps required.
Why Use the NVB Tracker?
The NVB tracker provides:
- Real‑time status updates throughout the vetting process
- 24/7 access to application progress
- Fast, reliable checks whenever you need clarity
Have these two pieces of information ready:
- The Application ID / ECI reference number
- The applicant’s date of birth
Understanding What You See on the Tracker
Once the tracker loads the application, it will display the current stage of the vetting process. It is normal for a status to remain unchanged for several days, as updates are not issued daily.
If the tracker displays an error:
- First, ensure all details entered are correct
- You can copy and paste the required information directly from the Early Childhood Ireland dashboard
- If the error continues, you may need to clear your device’s cookies and try again
If you are unsure what certain terms or stages mean, clear explanations of each step in the vetting process are available in our Garda Vetting FAQs, under “How can I track an application I have submitted for a staff member?”
Keep in Mind: Current Application Processing Times
As processing times for Garda Vetting have increased, having a forward‑looking approach is key to avoiding delays as the NVB processes applications in chronological order. The following guidance will help you understand the updated timelines and plan both recruitment and re‑vetting with confidence
Standard applications:
- 15–20 working days (previously shorter)
Note: Around 20% may take longer
- 15–20 working days (previously shorter)
Applications with EU address history:
- Add up to 10 extra working days
Total: approx. 25–30 working days
- Add up to 10 extra working days
Applications with UK address history:
- Add up to 20 extra working days
Total: approx. 35–40 working days
- Add up to 20 extra working days
Important Reminders:
- Timelines begin only after the applicant receives, completes, and submits their NVB link.
- Re‑vetting follows the same process and timelines as new applications.
- Early Childhood Ireland cannot prioritise or expedite applications, as all applications are processed in chronological order by the NVB.
Avoiding Delays: Practical Steps for Validators
Follow up with applicants to confirm they have:
- Received the NVB link after you submit their details to Early Childhood Ireland
- They can access the link sent via the NVB
- Completed and submitted the NVB link correctly
Common issues that stop the process from starting:
- Incorrect email address or date of birth submitted
- Application not received by Early Childhood Ireland (no confirmation email received and not visible on your dashboard after 24 hours).
- Action: Resubmit and ensure the “thank you” screen appears on submission.
Accuracy checks to share and remind your applicants:
- Answer the mandatory questions correctly:
- Have you previously lived in another EU member state country or UK country, other than Ireland? — The answer must match the address history/birthplace provided by the applicant
- Does the role involve working with children — must reflect the role applied for
- If either is completed incorrectly, the link is cancelled and reissued to the applicant with the issue outlined and how to amend
- Complete address history from birth to current in chronological order, with:
- House/apartment number, street, town/city, country, Eircode/postcode (if available)
- Use the country drop‑down menu to avoid errors
Best practice:
- Ensure online details match the NVB1 and Identity Document Validation Form exactly
- Share the Applicant User Guide (created by the NVB) to reduce errors and cancellations
- Start the re‑vetting process 2–3 months before disclosure expiry to avoid disruption
Helpful Information
Practical Tools and Resources to Guide Affiliates:
