Press Release March 2006
Pavee Point expresses serious concern at Traveller Organisation exclusion from High Level Official Group
Pavee Point welcomes the publication of the High Level Official Group's report on Travellers and we welcome any commitment to progress policy implementation in relation to Travellers. The concept of an integrated approach to service delivery for Travellers to ensure implementation of policy in the areas of health, accommodation, education and employment is to be broadly welcomed. However the exclusion of Traveller organisations from the establishment, composition and operational procedures of the High Level Officials Group is an area of serious concern.
"This harks back to the assimilationist policies of the 1960s, policies which failed Travellers and were ineffective. These were designed for Travellers and not by or with Travellers" says Martin Collins, Assistant Director Pavee Point. The exclusion of Traveller organisations is a regressive step from the 1995 Government Task Force on the Travelling Community which set up an inclusive policy framework to address Travellers issues in partnership with Traveller organisations."
Pavee Point's concerns around the HLOG Report include:
The Report calls for an increased role of County Development Boards when so many Local Authorities have failed to implement their own Accommodation Programmes.
- Implementation of Traveller policy relies on the goodwill of County managers rather than having institutional mechanisms in place.
- The Report Shifts responsibility for implementation services on to Traveller organisations away from their advocacy role. The advocacy work of Traveller and other community based organisations is crucial if consultation is to produce meaningful outcomes.
- It would be important to also note that one of the big providers of employment and training opportunities to Travellers are Traveller organisations. It is important that, as the report calls for, mainstream service providers now create such opportunities for Travellers
- It is important that any Data strategy is part of the development of a wider data strategy and builds on the work undertaken by Pavee Point and the CSO on the issue of ethnicity.
Pavee Point again calls for the establishment of an Independent Statutory Traveller Agency to drive policy implementation. Clearly for such a structure to work Travellers and Traveller organisations would be active partners in this Agency as they have a wealth of experience and knowledge to bring to the process. ENDS.
For further information please contact Martin Collins or Ronnie Fay.
Issued by Pavee Point Travellers' Centre, 46 North Great Charles St., Dublin 1. 01 8780255