Joan Collins (Dublin South Central, Independent) | Oireachtas source

Following on from Senator Freeman's contribution I have concerns in regard to the work of the Joint Committee on Key Issues affecting the Traveller community. The purpose of this committee is to examine Traveller community life and, in particular, mental health within that community. In this regard, we are asking the Traveller community to come forward and tell us their experiences and, thus, this committee is taking on the responsibility for the future mental health of the Traveller Community. I hope it will not meet the same end as the Joint Committee on the Future of Mental Health Care, which, as mentioned by Senator Freeman, has not met for the last year.

Last year, €55 million was allocated to the mental health sector. A number of the mental health organisations have made the point that €25 million of that allocation has not yet been spent. Is this correct? The Minister of State might respond "yes" or "no". If so, why has it not been spent? A number of the Traveller groups contacted members of the committee and asked us to specifically raise the following questions with the Minister of State, Deputy Jim Daly. Will the Department of Health commit to supporting the implementation of the national Traveller health action plan, including ring-fenced funding and the establishment of an institutional mechanism with the HSE and the Department of Health to drive its delivery and implementation? Why has Traveller health not received any development funding since 2008, as opposed to once-off funding, given health inequalities and the findings of the all-Ireland Traveller study in 2010? Why has the Department of Health not provided targeted resources to address the Traveller mental health crisis given disproportionate levels of suicide and poor mental health? Will the Department of Health commit to providing resources to Traveller mental health from the additional €39 million allocated in budget 2020? Why has the Department of Health not implemented the recommendations of the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Future of Mental Health Care?

As discussed over the course of our meetings to date, the Traveller community feels that across the board in all Departments Travellers are not regarded in any way; they are treated as second and third class citizens. The view was expressed that future reforms across Departments should be proofed from the point of view of the Traveller community. It is important Traveller community issues are put on the agenda such that they are not left behind, as they feel they have been up to now.