Traveller Education Change (TEC) Project Report

Authors/Creators

• Amanda, Mc Carthy (Researcher)

•  Lynch, Ciara (Researcher)

•  O' Reilly, Mary Ann (Researcher)

•  O'Reilly, Crystal (Researcher)

•  O' Reilly, Kathleen (Researcher)

•  O' Reilly, Ellen (Researcher)

•  Connors, Margaret (Researcher)

•  Killeen, Linda (Researcher)

•  Casey, Kathleen (Researcher)

•  Casey, Bridget (Researcher)

•  Casey, Ellen (Researcher)

•  Casey, Noreen (Researcher)

•  Carnicer Crous, Maria (Project member)

•  Fitzsimons, Camillia (Supervisor)1

•  Newell, Molly (Project member)

•  Limerick Traveller Network

•  Exchange House Ireland National Traveller Service
  
  

DOI https://zenodo.org/records/18349870

The Traveller Education Change (TEC) Project is a community-led, participatory action research initiative developed by the Limerick Traveller Network in partnership with Exchange House Ireland and Maynooth University. This report examines systemic barriers to educational equity for Irish Traveller children in Limerick, highlighting persistent disparities in school retention, academic achievement, and progression to higher education. Drawing on surveys of 57 families and a total of 164 Traveller children from children’s focus groups, and peer-led fieldwork, the study reveals structural failures in early assessment, special education supports, cultural representation, and communication between schools and Traveller parents. Findings indicate that Traveller students experience low expectations, limited subject choices, and high rates of segregation, contributing to early school leaving and restricted pathways to further education. The report advocates for culturally inclusive curricula, improved parental engagement, anti-racism training for educators, and the integration of Traveller voices in policy and practice. Recommendations align with the 2024–2030 Traveller and Roma Education Strategy, calling for systemic reforms and locally tailored, Traveller-led initiatives to ensure equitable educational outcomes and empower Traveller communities as partners in change. 

Limerick Traveller Network and Exchange House Ireland National Traveller Service (2026) Traveller Education Change Project Report, The Journal of Education on the Margins, 1 (1), 65 - 96, available: https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.18349870