Press Releases
...........PRESS RELEASE.....25th MARCH
2004............
Blocks to Travellers as Entrepeneurs, Says
Research
Research launched today shows
that Travellers have not been able to share in Ireland's
recent economic success. This is backed up by recent Census
2002 figures which show unemployment of Traveller men at 73%
compared to 9% among the general population.
The
research - 'Dismantling the Traveller Economy? - A Case Study
of the impact of increasing regulation on the Traveller
economy' points out that self employment has been one of the
ways Travellers have sought to address their own economic
needs but that barriers to Traveller entrepeneurship exist.
"Travellers face many barriers in setting up their own
businesses," said Patrick Nevin of Pavee Point Travellers'
Centre, "Barriers in accessing credit, barriers getting
recognition for the skills they have, discrimination when
applying for trading licences and the poor employment rate
among Travellers leaving Traveller training centres."
Travellers from all around the country came together
today to discuss how the barriers to Traveller self-employment
could be addressed, at a workshop organised by the EU
Community Initiative EQUAL project Pavee Feens Hawken
(Traveller Men Working).
Hundreds of Traveller men
have tried to access Pavee Feens Hawken projects based in
Dublin and Galway and which show the high level of interest
among Traveller men in setting up their own businesses. Pavee
Feens Hawken aims to identify and address these barriers.
"Good information needs to be given to Travellers,
state agencies need to engage Travellers and Traveller
organisations in the development of policies and new
initiatives need to be piloted," said Brid O'Brien, Pavee
Point Travellers' Centre.
"It's important also that
skills Travellers have are acknowledged and that suitable
training is provided," she added.
ENDS.
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