The Traveller Apprenticeship Incentivisation Programme (TAIP) has grown steadily since its launch in 2023.
Funded by the Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science through the Dormant Accounts Fund, this unique programme, designed by and for Travellers, has supported Travellers to access apprenticeships and progress towards their career goals.
In response to the significant barriers faced by Travellers in education, training and employment, TAIP also works with employers to create safe, supportive and Traveller-inclusive working environments.
Reducing barriers
Financial barriers for potential apprentices can range from equipment costs, rent, travel and examination fees. To reduce financial barriers, TAIP provides bursaries to both apprentices and employers to support the costs associated with an apprenticeship:
• Grants of up to €3,000 for Travellers starting or already enrolled in a SOLAS-approved apprenticeship, pre-apprenticeship, or Access to Apprenticeship programme
• A €2,000 employer grant for organisations hiring Traveller apprentices
TAIP Team (L-R): Pat Stokes, Megan Forrest, Martin Ward and Rossa Gilsenan
Great successes
The programme has had an enormous impact on Travellers who have received bursaries. There have been great successes; most notably, a Traveller woman was nominated for the 2025 Apprentice of the Year Award.
This visibility of young Travellers is central to challenging racism and discrimination that Travellers face and shows other Travellers that they can also have a thriving career.
In 2022, when the national unemployment rate was 8%, it stood at 61% among Travellers. Traveller women in particular face further barriers, with less than 16% in employment.
TAIP works closely with employment and apprenticeship providers to tailor training to the specific needs of each workplace. The programme has delivered training in collaboration with Business in the Community Ireland across a wide range of sectors, including government departments, semi-state bodies and the commercial sector.
Employer understanding
This training helps employers better understand Traveller culture and build more inclusive workplaces for diverse and disadvantaged groups, including Traveller apprentices.
“We are proud to partner with the Irish Traveller Movement to support the inclusion and empowerment of the Traveller community,” said Sinéad Kilkelly, Executive Director, People & Sustainability at the ESB.
“Our journey began through collaboration with key stakeholders – including community advocates and representatives from the Irish Traveller Movement – who helped us to understand the unique challenges and opportunities in this space.
“We encourage other employers to consider TAIP not just as a programme, but as a catalyst for broader cultural change.”
Edel McSorley, Operations Director, MrPRICE Branded Bargains said: “TAIP doesn’t just open doors to apprenticeships; it opens doors to possibility and drives the change needed within workplaces.
“Employers have a responsibility to remove barriers and recognise the strengths that Traveller talent brings. When people are given a fair chance, communities thrive and businesses benefit. We’re proud to support pathways where individuals can see a future for themselves and be seen for their potential.”
According to the Traveller and Roma Education Strategy 2024 – 2030, 4.7% of Travellers had a third-level qualification, compared with 47.7% of the general population.
Working with education
TAIP also collaborates with training providers and higher-education institutions, including Technological University of the Shannon (TUS) and TU Dublin, to develop and strengthen pre-apprenticeship and Access to Apprenticeship pathways for Travellers.
TAIP continues to work closely with public-sector bodies, SOLAS, ETBI and educational institutions to challenge the longstanding inequalities in education that continue to affect Traveller communities..
More than 161 grants have been awarded to Traveller apprentices so far, supporting them on a pathway towards long-term employment and brighter futures.
We are eager to build new partnerships with organisations across all sectors that support Travellers, directly or indirectly.
If you would like to hear more about TAIP please feel free to contact our team and we will be happy to answer any questions you may have.
Contacts for the Traveller Apprenticeship Incentivisation Programme (TAIP)
Pat Stokes – National Apprenticeship Outreach Officer – apprenticeship@itmtrav.ie
Martin Ward – National Employer Outreach Officer – martinward@itmtrav.ie
Rossa Gilsenan – TAIP Administration Officer – rossa@itmtrav.ie
Megan Forrest – TAIP Manager – meganforrest@itmtrav.ie
