Martin Browne (Tipperary, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I also welcome Senator Flynn and congratulate her on and her committee on the report. I assure her that she is more than welcome and entitled to be in this House. This is an incredibly important document and, as the committee Chair has said, we cannot let this become just another report. We must put an end to the policies and practice that have failed the Traveller community. That is why it is important to highlight the findings of this report and its 84 recommendations. Among the many issues the Traveller community contends with are the scourges of discrimination, racism and exclusion. The report outlines worse health outcomes than in the settled community, the mental health crisis being experienced, the lower education retention and completion rates and accommodation shortfalls.

Regarding health, the committee heard that concerns over racism and discrimination underpin Travellers' lack of engagement with health services with 53% of Travellers fearing unfair treatment from healthcare providers. That is why I support the committee's call for the national Traveller health plan to be published urgently and for an independent implementation body to be established to drive its delivery. The Travelling community is also experiencing a mental health crisis. A suicide rate of 11% was recorded in 2010 which is seven times higher than in the settled community. Given the lack of engagement over fear of unfair treatment by healthcare providers, it is only right that the committee is calling for a ring-fenced health budget for the Traveller community within the HSE and for the appointment of a Department lead on Traveller health and mental health to monitor the progress, actions and initiatives across Departments.

The report states: "The health status of Travellers is impacted by a range of social determinants, most severely by overcrowded and substandard living conditions." It also outlines instances where the State and local authorities have failed to implement the measures to assist the Traveller community in this regard. While I do not have time to go into it right now-----

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