Tusla’s Traveller Strategy: Building Trust and Inclusion

Historically, the relationship between Irish Travellers and state institutions has been characterised as one of mistrust, fear and intimidation.

Critically examine how Tusla proposes to structurally reform its child welfare and protection practices to foster trust and strengthen connections with the Traveller community, by referring to Tusla’s strategy document On The One Road: Our journey towards strengthening Tusla-Traveller connections (2025).

Week 7 readings supplied: On The One Road (Tusla, 2025), the ITM Review of the Commission on Itinerancy, and Boyle, Flynn and Hanafin (2018) From Absorption to Inclusion: The Evolution of Irish State Policy on Travellers.

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Tusla’s Proposal To Reform

An analysis of Tusla on the road (2025) indicates that there is a proposal made to transform from traditional state controlled intervention towards Traveller-led culturally sensitive and partnership based child welfare systems. It is identified that the mistrust is rooted in historical discrimination and fear of children being removed from their families. The main focus of the strategy is therefore on changing Tusla’s organisation structures, staff practices and relationships with Traveller families.
Acknowledging historical injustice – the historical mistreatment faced by travellers should be acknowledged as per proposal made by Tusla to demonstrate an apology. This is quite significant because the 1963 Commission on itinerancy promoted the settlement and absorption of travellers into mainstream society. The approach by Tusla indicates a shift from assimilation to cultural recognition.

Traveller participation in decision making

A national working group that comprises traveller organisations is being established by Tusla with the objective of providing the community with a meaningful role in decisions that impact families. This structural change making Travellers partners is crucial in designing services.

Mandatory cultural awareness and anti racism training

The proposal by Tusla indicates mandatory training for staff aimed at addressing stereotyping, institutional racism and lack of understanding of Traveller identity among professionals. The strategy also supports travel representation and employment within Tusla.

Reforming communication and professional practice

The main focus of Tusla is on providing clear and culturally appropriate information with timely updates and honest communication. It aims at addressing the previous experiences of intimidation and uncertainty about child protection decisions.

Strengthening accountability and advocacy

The emphasis is on providing better systems for raising complaints and addressing discrimination, as Traveller consultation is crucial in identifying concerns about social workers’ power and accountability when families experienced unfair treatment.

Earlier family support and cultural appropriate care

Tusla aims at improving early intervention and prevention in order to allow families to access support before difficulties become a child protection crisis. The proposal is also to support the traveller parents whose children enter care and measures aimed at helping children in care and community connections.

Improving data collection and monitoring

Tusla proposes to collect equality data in order to identify barriers and improve service planning. It also aims at monitoring traveller participation in local child and family support structure. This will help in clearly revealing the inequalities and help evaluate whether services are genuinely accessible.

Conclusion

The proposed reforms by Tusla are aimed at moving child welfare and protection towards partnership, cultural respect, early intervention and accountability. The change that is highly significant is the fact that trust must be earned rather than to expect Traveller families to adapt to the existing system.

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