We were very happy to welcome Minister for Health Simon Harris TD to Pavee Point to highlight health inequalities between Irish Travellers and the majority population.
Minister Harris met with Programme Workers here in Pavee Point to hear about our work and to get up to date information on Traveller health:
· A 15 year life expectancy gap
· Suicide rate that is 7 times the national average
· Higher rate of all diseases
In a discussion afterwards Minister Harris was shocked to hear some of the statistics in relation to Traveller health and recognised the need to engage constructively on policy mechanisms.
He showed keen interest in progressing the situation for Travellers and we look forward to meeting with the Minister on this again.
