Discrimination against Travellers not acceptable in modern Ireland - Hoctor
NEWS RELEASE
LAUNCH: Minister for Older People Maire Hoctor launches report on older Travellers
WHERE: Pavee Point Travellers Centre, 46 Nth Grt Charles Street, Dublin 2
WHEN: 2:00pm Wednesday 3 December, 2008
Discrimination against Travellers not acceptable in modern Ireland - Hoctor
In an event to coincide with Traveller Focus Week 2008, Minister for Older People Maire Hoctor TD today launched a report detailing the needs and expectation of Older Travellers in the Finglas and Blanchardstown areas of Dublin. The report, entitled Pavee ‘Beoirs 'n' Glokes’ (Traveller Women and Men), was published by Pavee Point, with support from Age and Opportunity under their Pilot Grant Scheme Initiative 2008.
The report, the first of its kind in Ireland, explores the attitudes and experience of both older Travellers and services providers regarding access to and provision of local services for Older Travellers.
Speaking at the launch, Minister Hoctor welcomed the report and said:
"Older Travellers are small in number and this in itself should be a cause for concern among policy makers and service providers....It is imperative that service providers, whether statutory services, community services or indeed commercial and retail services, ensure that older Travellers, particularly the vulnerable, are included in their work and in their strategic thinking going forward."
She went on to say:
"Discrimination, whether directed at Travellers or directed at people because of their age is simply not acceptable in modern Ireland."
The report notes that the definition of ‘older people’ among Travellers is quite different to that of the majority population. Many Travellers would be grandparents at 40 years of age although, similar to the majority population, the demographic profile of the Traveller community is changing as people are marrying later, having fewer children and in general living longer.
A key finding of the report indicates that many older Travellers have experienced a level of discrimination in Ireland that they did not experience in other countries. Older Travellers who had lived in England in the past described a generally positive experience with the majority population there, while there experiences in Ireland compared much less favourably.
Discrimination was also found to be a factor in the delivery of some services to older Travellers with some respondents reporting past experiences of segregated services around social welfare provision or little interest by service providers in the maintenance of accommodation.
Another key finding indicated that many older Travellers are fearful that the Traveller way of life, Traveller customs and traditions are being lost on younger Travellers who they fear, are turning away from their heritage because of the difficulties in maintaining a Traveller way of life.
Speaking at the launch, Molly Collins, an older woman involved in a pilot network for older Travellers said “ It is important not to forget about the older Travellers. They are often the most vulnerable and least thought of members of the community. We should value the knowledge that they have and their place in the community. Just like settled people, older Travellers can be lonely, isolated and fearful.”