Press Releases
............PRESS RELEASE.....30th MAY 2002............
Pavee Point Travellers' Centre voiced its anger
and frustration at threatened cut backs in Local Training Initiatives
at a demonstration outside FAS, Baggot Street at mid-day today.
Community groups are being kept in the dark
regarding changes to FAS that may see over 4,000 people on community
training being dropped.
Following recent announcements in cut backs in Community Employment Schemes the threat that Local Training Initiatives will also be forced to close down is a severe blow to Travellers trying to attain change and opportunities in the face of discrimination and neglect of the Traveller community over the years.
In a recent report 'Job Vacancies—Vacant Jobs', it was shown that Travellers face huge discrimination in the mainstream labour market. This, coupled with the fact that there are low levels of educational achievement among many adult Travellers, means that without Local Training Initiatives it is practically impossible for Travellers to attain any equality of opportunity.
Local Training Initiatives provide vital opportunities for culturally appropriate training. Currently 16 Travellers are training with Pavee Point. In the Cultural Heritage Programme Travellers are working towards opening a Travellers' Cultural Heritage Centre where Travellers and settled people can come to learn about Traveller culture and identity.
Currently the trainees conduct school visits, monthly information sessions for the public, dramas and presentations and are currently involved in an oral history project, which sees them interview and record older Travellers talking about their lives - a part of Irish history that is fast disappearing.
"If this training is dropped - all the work we have done so far will go to waste," said Winnie Kerrigan, Assitant Co-Ordinator of the course and a Traveller woman. "The training is a huge part of our lives. It gives us something we can call our own to aim for.
"Most of the Travellers here only went to primary school. Some still can't read or write. What chances have we got of getting on other training courses? What other chance do we have to better our own lives? And what about our children? If this is happening to us, now - what chance do our children have?" These training initiatives must be kept - it's only fair."
Following recent announcements in cut backs in Community Employment Schemes the threat that Local Training Initiatives will also be forced to close down is a severe blow to Travellers trying to attain change and opportunities in the face of discrimination and neglect of the Traveller community over the years.
In a recent report 'Job Vacancies—Vacant Jobs', it was shown that Travellers face huge discrimination in the mainstream labour market. This, coupled with the fact that there are low levels of educational achievement among many adult Travellers, means that without Local Training Initiatives it is practically impossible for Travellers to attain any equality of opportunity.
Local Training Initiatives provide vital opportunities for culturally appropriate training. Currently 16 Travellers are training with Pavee Point. In the Cultural Heritage Programme Travellers are working towards opening a Travellers' Cultural Heritage Centre where Travellers and settled people can come to learn about Traveller culture and identity.
Currently the trainees conduct school visits, monthly information sessions for the public, dramas and presentations and are currently involved in an oral history project, which sees them interview and record older Travellers talking about their lives - a part of Irish history that is fast disappearing.
"If this training is dropped - all the work we have done so far will go to waste," said Winnie Kerrigan, Assitant Co-Ordinator of the course and a Traveller woman. "The training is a huge part of our lives. It gives us something we can call our own to aim for.
"Most of the Travellers here only went to primary school. Some still can't read or write. What chances have we got of getting on other training courses? What other chance do we have to better our own lives? And what about our children? If this is happening to us, now - what chance do our children have?" These training initiatives must be kept - it's only fair."
ENDS.