New ESRI research finds high levels of prejudice against Travellers and Roma in Ireland

December 17, 2024

Social Inclusion and Equality
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Travellers and Roma face the highest levels of prejudice of any ethnic group in Ireland, according to new ESRI research on attitudes to social groups. Notably, people living in affluent areas were less comfortable with having Travellers as neighbours or in a relationship with their child than those living in disadvantaged areas. Attitudes to Travellers were particularly negative in the West, South West and the Midlands regions, whereas attitudes to Roma were most negative in the South West and Midlands. 

This report was published as part of a joint research programme on integration and equality between the ESRI and the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth. It examined the factors associated with attitudes to a range of social, ethnic, and religious groups, using a representative survey of 3,008 adults carried out in spring 2023. The report also provided context on the socio-economic situation of Travellers and Roma, drawing on Census 2022. 


Attitudes towards Travellers and Roma 

  • Travellers and Roma stand out as the groups that people in Ireland are least comfortable with in 3 areas of their lives. 
  • On average, people were most comfortable having Travellers and Roma in their child’s class in school, less comfortable with having them as neighbours and least comfortable with having them in a relationship with their child  
  • Travellers and Roma are two distinct ethnic groups with different histories, cultures, and languages. However, attitudes to both groups are very similar in Ireland.
  • Tolerant attitudes towards Travellers and Roma were generally held by those who also have tolerant attitudes towards the most stigmatised groups in Irish society, such as those with substance abuse issues and criminal records 
  • Positive attitudes to Roma were in some cases associated with positive attitudes to a broader range of ethnic and national groups, but this is not the case for Travellers 
    Factors associated with different attitudes
  • Women and young people (16-20) were more tolerant towards Travellers and Roma than men and older age groups
  • More educated respondents were generally more comfortable with Travellers and Roma compared to less well-educated respondents 
  • Homeowners were less tolerant of Travellers and Roma than those living in privately rented accommodation or social housing 
  • Those who described themselves as ‘middle-class’ were less comfortable with Travellers and Roma than those who described themselves as ‘working-class’ 
  • People who volunteered in the past year were more positive to both Travellers and Roma, suggesting civic engagement is associated with tolerance
  • The most substantial differences in attitudes were by region. Residents of the border region and Dublin were most tolerant of both groups. People living in the West and Midlands were least tolerant of Travellers, whereas people in the South West and Midlands were least tolerant of Roma. 
  • Respondents living in disadvantaged communities were more comfortable with having Travellers as neighbours than those living in more affluent areas. Previous ESRI research has found the opposite effect for immigrants.

Situation of Travellers and Roma in Ireland – Census 2022

  • 3 per cent of Irish Travellers and 26 per cent of Roma aged over 15 had a third-level degree, compared to 34 per cent of the White Irish population 
  • Irish Travellers were much less likely to report their health as good or very good (67 per cent) than White Irish (88 per cent) or Roma (86 per cent)
  • These findings are consistent with previous research on Irish Travellers. Census 2022 was the first to enumerate Roma in Ireland, so no comparison can be made.  

Report author, Frances McGinnity stated: ‘The views of the majority population are important for understanding the experience of minorities, and for Travellers and Roma, this report highlights high levels of both prejudice and disadvantage. In some ways, factors associated with higher levels of comfort towards Travellers and Roma are similar to migrant minority groups, for example, having third level education. Yet people finding it more difficult to make ends meet, those living in social housing and those living in disadvantaged communities are generally more comfortable with Travellers, in contrast to findings for migrant groups, suggesting anti-Traveller racism may be distinct from other forms of prejudice in Ireland.’ 

The Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth commented: ‘This research builds on the Ipsos survey that the Department published in June 2023, which reported “disappointing attitudes [amongst the wider population] towards members of the Traveller community and the Roma community”. That survey reinforced the need for revised national equality strategies to address the attitudes that give rise to discrimination. To this end, the National Traveller and Roma Inclusion Strategy II 2024 – 2028 was launched in July 2024. The new ESRI research provides welcome new insight into perspectives and prejudices, and so will greatly assist in the delivery of actions under the Strategy.’