Over €5.5 million (48%), allocated to local authorities to spend on Traveller specific accommodation in 2018 was sent back unspent, latest figures show. This continues a trend that has seen an allocated €60.5 million unspent on Traveller specific accommodation since 2000. “These figures reconfirm, if such was needed, that the present system is incapable of […]

The European Commission against Racism and Intolerance (ECRI) has urged Ireland to take action against local authorities that fail to spend money allocated for providing accommodation for Travellers. ECRI – part of the 47-nation Council of Europe – has also called upon the Irish authorities to enact new legislation on hate speech and hate crime, […]

 From Dublin, Cork , Galway, Mayo and London Traveller winners were recognised for their achievements and contributions in Education, Arts / Culture, Music, Enterprise, Youth, Sport, Intersectionality and Community at the Traveller Pride Awards today. Laura Angela Collins received the first award in the scheme for ‘Intersectionality’ for her campaign towards institutional redress related to her grandmother’s burial in a […]

Pavee Point Traveller & Roma Centre welcomes new indicators in ageing from the Department of Health that take account of the gap in life expectancy for Irish Travellers. A report by the Healthy and Positive Ageing Initiative, launched today, acknowledges the gap in health outcomes and includes indicators that redefine Traveller ageing as 40+, recognising […]

Travellers and Traveller organisations spoke up at this year’s Social Inclusion Forum calling for the need for the Traveller Health Action Plan to be published and implemented.   While Travellers make up 1% of the population, Travellers make up 9% of the homeless population.  Unemployment is at 80% according to Census 2016. These issues need to […]

Pavee Point Traveller and Roma Centre hosted the 1st Roma Network Forum meeting this week. Sixteen organisations, from all over the country, attended the meeting. Organisations will be involved in information sharing and strategic planning. “We’re really delighted there is such motivation and enthusiasm for this Network and we are determined to work together to […]

In the run up to Elections 19 Pavee Point, as part of the Community Platform , helped develop materials to promote and support the delivery of positive social values. These values are Community, Decency and Participation. https://vimeo.com/336565580 Electing people who will deliver on these values on the 24th May will help achieve the type of […]

German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas opened the Roma exhibition FUTUROMA, an official Collateral Event of the 58 Venice Biennale – the world’s most prestigious contemporary arts event. Minster Heiko said FUTUROMA highlighted the importance of the Roma minority as an example for a united Europe.  “The Roma arts and culture gives me hope for the Europe […]

Traveller parents highlighted the use of reduced timetables as being disruptive to the delivery of high quality education to their children, a Pavee Point assessment has found.   Pavee Point believes this practice serves to reinforce unequal educational outcomes experienced by Traveller children. Pavee Point recently carried out a Traveller Baseline Needs Assessment in Clare, which […]

Pavee Point was delighted to host a visit by Michael O’ Flaherty, Director of the EU Agency for Fundamental Rights.  Mr. O Flaherty met with staff and discussed issues impacting on Travellers and Roma. Mr. O’ Flaherty said a national strategy was needed to deal with these issues and that these were issues that ngos […]

European Roma Week, now in its fourth year, took place this year alongside European Week against Racism March 18/21 due to the upcoming European Parliament Elections. Both were significantly enhanced by the involvement of Soraya Post a Roma MEP from Sweden who was elected by the Feminist Party. A number of other Roma MEPs also […]

The World Community Development Conference took place in June 2018 at Maynooth University.  The conference focused on Participation, Power and Progress.  Delegates from all over the world came to reflect on diverse practices and on research and contexts all over the world. The report on the conference is now available – click on image below […]

Report by the European Roma Rights Centre (ERRC) The European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR) has condemned Romania for racist police brutality, and for the first time, found that Roma face institutionalized racism from law-enforcement in Romania. The case was brought by Roma who were brutally attacked in a police raid in 2011. They were represented […]

Nearly 80% of Travellers in a survey in South Dublin say they themselves or someone in their family has suffered from depression.  This compares with just 8% of the general population who reported symptoms of moderate depression as per Census 2016. The Clondalkin Traveller Development Group’s report recommends mental health services to prioritize targeted efforts […]

Tessa Collins, Senior Community Development Worker in Pavee Point, addressed the 7th International Roma Women’s Conference as part of a workshop on hate crime and evictions of Travellers and highlighting their impact on Traveller women. “The impact of local authorities not spending the Traveller accommodation budgets allocated to them is devastating, particularly for women and […]

A  meeting took place with Garda Commissioner Drew Harris at Pavee Point where Garda relations with Traveller and Roma were the main focus of discussion. Commissioner Harris acknowledged the potential for institutional racism within a police force which he is familiar with through his work in relation to the McPherson Report 1999. The poor relations […]

Pavee Point Traveller & Roma Centre welcomes that all main political parties signed up to the Anti-Racism Electoral Protocol launched today by the European Network Against Racism on International Day For the Elimination of Racial Discrimination. “We cannot be complacent about racism in Ireland,” said Pavee Point Co Director Martin Collins, “This is also a […]