World Breastfeeding Week

Breastfeeding Improves Health for Baby and Mother Pavee Point’s Community Health Workers did a special session this week with Public Healthy Nurse Jemma Guiney on the benefits of breastfeeding to coincide with World Breastfeeding Week. “Breastfeeding is one of the most effective and cost effective ways to save and improve the lives of children everywhere, […]

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New approach needed to avoid another tragedy

On the anniversary of the Carrickmines fire tragedy Martin Collins, Co Director at Pavee Point, has called for an increase in funding in this year’s budget for Traveller accommodation and a new approach to help avoid another tragedy. “We still have 1,300 Traveller families – approximately 7,000 people who are living in sub-standard, unsafe accommodation […]

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Rosaleen McDonagh wins SHEROES Award

Rosaleen McDonagh was given a standing ovation in recognition of her work in Community Development at the annual SHEROES Awards which took place in Navan, County Meath on October 2nd. The SHEROES Awards, which is now in its second year is the brainchild of Yemi Adenuga and aims to be the platform which honours hardworking, […]

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A ‘Life Safety’ approach and Traveller engagement essential to sustain fire safety for Travellers

We welcome the ‘Life Safety’ approach adopted by the Dept. of Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government and its engagement with Traveller organisations in producing its ‘Report on Programme to Review and Enhance Fire Safety in Local Authority Provided Traveller Accommodation’. This initiative was taken in the wake of the Carrickmines fire tragedy in which 10 Travellers, including […]

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National Women’s Council backs call for Traveller Agency

National Women’s Council backs call for Traveller Agency We were delighted with the support from NWCI members in agreeing to lobby the Government to establish an independent Traveller Agency to drive and monitor the implementation of Traveller policy in accommodation and other key areas at its recent AGM. As women often bear responsibility for the […]

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Breaking Sexual Health Barriers

Our Primary Health Care for Traveller Project features in the autumn issue of the HSE magazine – Sexual Health News.  Aoife Mallon and Mary Bridget Collins took part in a foundation programme for the promotion of sexual health within Traveller communities.  In the article they talk about some of the issues facing Travellers.  “We want […]

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One more Traveller child left behind

The case of Paddy Flynn is yet another example of a Traveller child being left behind by the education system in Ireland. Only 13% of Travellers complete formal education in comparison with 92% of the general population. 7 out of 10 Traveller children live in families where their mother has no formal education or primary […]

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Minister – End Pointless Evictions that Solve Nothing

Photo: Mobile homes are removed from the halting site at Woodland Park, Dundalk, December 2015. Pavee Point Traveller and Roma Centre is calling (today 25th August 2016) on Minister for Housing, Simon Coveney TD to use his Ministerial powers and introduce a ban on Traveller evictions until Travellers on local authorities housing lists are provided for. […]

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Fire Safety Findings Not Surprising But Lamentable

Findings of local authority Traveller accommodation fire safety audits are unsurprising but lamentable, says Pavee Point Traveller & Roma Centre as more and more local authorities make public their Traveller fire safety audits as a result of requests under the Freedom of Information Act. These audits were carried out as part of the Government’s ‘Programme […]

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Roma Genocide Memorial Day – 2nd August 2016

Roma in Ireland met today in Enniscorthy, Co. Wexford to commemorate Roma Genocide Memorial Day and remember the estimated 500,000 Roma who were murdered by the Nazis. The Roma Health Advocacy Project and RCPE hosted the event which heard from Roma young people and the Department of Justice.  The Roma National Anthem was played and a minute’s silence […]

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Ombudsman says Irish Daily Mail article was offensive.

Pavee Point welcomes the acknowledgement by Press Ombudsman Peter Feeney that an article published by the Irish Daily Mail in 2014 contained generalisations about the Traveller community and was offensive . In his judgement on the 23rd of June, Peter Feeney,  Press Ombudsman said an article written by Brenda Power, in the Irish Daily Mail ‘certainly […]

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Housing/Homeless Plan includes Traveller Specific Accommodation

The need for Traveller specific accommodation has been highlighted by the Government in its housing and homelessness plan, Rebuilding Ireland, launched today.  This acknowledgement of the crisis in Traveller accommodation means the Housing  Agency will commission an independent review of funding for Traveller specific accommodation within the context of  local authority Traveller Accommodation Programmes.  This […]

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Pre Budget Submission

In our Pre Budget Submission we are calling on the Government to help safeguard against child poverty in the Roma community and remove child benefit from habitual residence condition requirements   And we’re asking that the Government provides a humanitarian response to ensure that Roma families are not living without basic food and shelter. We are also […]

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Donegal Travellers Project 20th Anniversary

There were many struggles and happy memories recalled at the Donegal Travellers’ Project 20th Anniversary event this week.  And lots of plans for the future.  Speakers recalled the great work of the project and its impact on people’s lives at an event in the Regional Cultural Centre.  And old and new friends gathered for a […]

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Stop evictions of Roma and Travellers – Say Six International Organisations.

Traditionally, summer holidays coincide with the eviction of Roma and Travellers throughout Europe, which takes place almost unnoticed. This week six international organisations stress the human cost of evictions and recall standards in a joint statement. Throughout Europe, Roma and Travellers – particularly those living in informal settlements, slums or halting sites – now face […]

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Fold and Rise

Traveller women  took part today (June 29th) in a bread making workshop as part of a NWCI event.  Kneading and folding dough was used in the half-day workshop with Pavee Point’s  Traveller Community Health Workers as a metaphor for women’s work and to discuss a feminist perspective on the folding and unfolding of time.   The women […]

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US Vice President Supports Traveller Ethnicity

Tessa Collins of Pavee Point’s Violence Against Women Programme was a special invitee to meet US Vice President Joe Biden at an event in Dublin Castle Garden on June 24th    where he spoke to her of his support for Traveller ethnicity. Tessa was part of a group representing organisations working in the area of Domestic and Sexual […]

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Pavees out in force for Dublin Pride

Tens of thousands of people took part in the annual Pride parade in Dublin city centre June 25th to support the LGBTQ community and celebrate diversity. This year’s theme was ‘Rebel Rebel’ honouring the historic events of 1916 and a tribute to David Bowie. The parade was led by Max Krzyzanowski of LGBT Noise, which started at […]

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First Traveller graduates from innovative early education programme

Photo: Here 4 year old John Collins and 4 year old Cassie Marie McDonagh with L to R, Professor Jimmy Hill Vice President National College of Ireland, Geraldine McDonnell Home Visitor Pavee Point, Charlene Collins and Ann McDonnell Home Visitor Pavee Point. Photo by Derek Speirs Seven Traveller children graduated from the Parent Child Home Programme […]

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