Press Releases
............PRESS RELEASE.....29th January 2004............
Census Highlights Exclusion of Travellers
Today's publication of Census figures relating to Irish Travellers highlights the socio economic exclusion that Travellers experience, according to Pavee Point Travellers Centre.
The figures show that even in an improved economic environment 73% of Traveller men are unemployed compared to an overall figure of 9.4%. "These figures are quite striking," said Ronnie Fay, Pavee Point Director and point to the barriers to Travellers gaining employment and the level of discrimination in the workplace."
According to the Census, 66% of Travellers are educated to Primary level only, compared to an overall figure of 21%. "We have been lobbying for a long time for the need for a Traveller Education Strategy to address issues such as an intercultural curriculum in the schools and the discrimination that Traveller children experience," said Ms. Fay.
The most damning figure in terms of Traveller exclusion has to be the young age profile of Travellers compared to the rest of society. According to the Census the average age for Travellers is 18 years compared to a national figure of 32.
"This shows that Travellers are dying younger than the majority population. The National Traveller Health Strategy, published in 2002, needs to be implemented fully," said Ms. Fay, "Instead the Strategy is facing Government cutbacks. This is not acceptable in what is supposed to be a humane and decent society."
The last Census was the first which featured a question which asked: Are you a member of the Traveller Community? "This question represents a step forward in that it enabled Travellers to self identify, instead of having other people decide who is and who is not a Traveller," said Ms. Fay.
ENDS.
To
Return to the Press Release
Index
ENDS.