Ms Mary Brigid McCann:

As Ms Fay said, what came out of the all-Ireland health study is that we have a very young population. It is time to give back to the Traveller community because we are very disappointed action has not been taken arising from the study, given that it cost €1.4 million and has been sitting on a shelf in the Department of Health ever since.

Another issue that came out of the study was the support for family networks living in a group housing scheme or with extended family that we would not have if we lived in standard housing. From the all-Ireland health study we found also that there were only eight Travellers over the age of 85. If Departments do not act now to give the younger generation a better quality of life, education and accommodation, and ensure there is less discrimination and better job opportunities, including giving the men better jobs, they will not live as long as those in the general population. We see the Government planning for those in the general population, who are living into their 80s and 90s, but Travellers only live to the age of 60 or 64. We need to act now. Many Traveller organisations have been talking about issues for a long time. Their members attended many committees where they raised many issues. Some progress has been made but more needs to be made if Travellers are to live as long as those in the general population.