Government & Equality Issues
A Brief Tour of the Task Force ReportThe report of the Task Force covers a wide range of issues relevant to Travellers' lives. It calls for a recognition of Travellers' distinct culture and identity, and states that this must be taken into account when designing faciliites, services and policies. It also recommends that Travellers must participate in and contribute to decisions affecting them and their way of life. The report recognises that Travellers are not a homogenous group and the Travellers with a disability and Traveller women have particular issues that must be addressed.
AccommodationA National Strategy should be developed and implemented to provide appropriate and sufficient accommodation.
The Task Force estimated that 3,100 units of accommodation are required to meet the backlog and plan for national growth.
A Traveller Accommodation Agency needs to be established to oversee this work, on which Travellers and Traveller organisations.
EducationThe development of an inter-cultural and anti-racist curriculum is vital.
Integration in the school system should be pursued, while the provision of alternative education for older Travellers in an enviroment where Travellers needs are prioritised is equally important.
A Travellers' Education Service should established to develop this work-Travellers and Traveller organisations must be involved in this service.
EconomyThe report recognises the distinct nature of the Traveller economy and the vital link with the provision of appropriate accommodation to support its development. It recommends:
- special access to training and employment courses for Travellers,
- the targeting and and identification of positions within the public sector to encourage greater participation in the mainstream labour force.
- the exploration of the social economy as a support for developments within the Traveller economy.
Specific services should be developed, especially services led by Travellers, which should complement access to mainstream services.
Medical cards with a three-year term should be introduced.
The establishment of a National Traveller Health Advisory Committee and a local committee in each Health Board area should be established. Travellers and Traveller organisations should be involved in these committeees.
DiscriminationIt should be recognised that discrimination occurs at the individual/interpersonal and institutional levels.
The urgently needed Equal Status legislation should prohibit:
- policies and procedures that discriminate against Travellers' way of life;
- discriminatory practices based on membership of the Traveller community;
- the provision of segregated facilities and services for Travellers unless they are so provided as a positive action measure.
The report contains many positive recommendations that, should they be acted upon, will make a significant contribution to improving Travellers' living circumstances. As Minister Taylor said at the launch of the report, "it is my intention that the Report being published here today and the action which will be taken on foot of it will fundamentally change the lives of the Irish Travelling community for the better." Travellers and Traveller groups will need to push for the implementation of its recommendations at every opportunity to ensure this really happens.
Brid O'Brien
Pavee Point Newsletter
December
1995