Sinéad Gibney (Dublin Rathdown, Social Democrats)
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I am very grateful for the opportunity to raise the issue of the closure and liquidation of the Southside Traveller Action Group, STAG. STAG has provided support to the Traveller community in my constituency and neighbouring constituencies for four decades. It provides support for some of the most marginalised people in our country, through periods when Travellers have faced horrific racism and abuse, a structural lack of support from the State and unimaginable tragedies such as the Carrickmines fire in which ten people tragically lost their lives. The announcement that STAG is closing has resulted in feelings of anger, betrayal and devastation for the Traveller community because for 40 years it has been helping Travellers with education, health supports, housing advocacy, employment and training programmes and after-school programmes. I understand that issues have arisen within the organisation and that the governance of the organisation is not for discussion in this Chamber. However, what is clearly within our scope is ensuring that Travellers in south Dublin continue to have the services they have relied on for over 40 years. We need to make sure the relevant Departments of equality, justice and social protection across government work together with the Dún Laoghaire Rathdown County Council to ensure the Traveller community itself is not penalised due to a situation it has not created. We need to ensure that education and health supports, housing advocacy and employment and training programmes for Travellers in my area continue and that there is a premises for these activities to take place.

These supports are vital for a community that has worse employment, educational and health outcomes and a much lower life expectancy than the settled population. If we are serious about equality, we need to address these issues for the Traveller community. STAG has been a huge part of that response in south Dublin for 40 years, and it is absolutely vital that any dissolution of the organisation does not leave these issues and that work abandoned.

I worked a lot on Traveller issues during my time in the human rights sector, and I have to say, it was an absolute privilege to work with groups such as the Southside Traveller Action Group from across Ireland that really provide for the gap in services I have described, which the State unfortunately as of yet does not provide for. The Traveller community is structurally vulnerable. What I mean by that, because the Traveller community is a very proud people and community, is its members face discrimination in areas across Irish life. They face racism that is the last accepted racism in our society, particularly in areas like mine where historically, political leaders have not shown the kindness to Travellers that we expect and Travellers deserve, and recognition of the racism and discrimination they experience in all spheres of Irish life. Attitudes of NIMBYism are not dealt with by political leaders and, in some instances, they are even fomented by political leaders within my constituency.

This is an opportunity for me and my constituency colleagues to show up for the Traveller community in Rathdown and specifically help put forward solutions when the Southside Traveller Action Group is in crisis. I really want to work with Government on this. I want to work with the Minister of State or whoever is responsible for this area to find a solution and show up for this delicate community.

Robert Troy (Longford-Westmeath, Fianna Fail)
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The Minister for Children, Equality and Disability would like me, on her behalf, to thank the Deputy for raising this important issue and offering her, through me, an opportunity to respond. She sends her genuine apologies that she cannot be here to take this debate.

On 17 February, the board of Southside Traveller Action Group informed its public funders, including the Department of Children, Disability and Equality, that following an emergency meeting of the board and members, a resolution had been passed to place the company into voluntary liquidation on the grounds of insolvency. This was a deeply regrettable development as for more than 40 years, STAG played an important role in supporting members of the Traveller community and advocating for equality, inclusion and improved outcomes in areas such as accommodation support, education, training, employment, Traveller healthcare and youth services for local Traveller families. The main public funding organisations are the Health Service Executive, the Dublin and Dún Laoghaire Education and Training Board and the Department of Social Protection, with an application also coming from the Department of Children, Equality and Disability to support and enable front-line service delivery. The Department of Children, Equality and Disability has contributed to State funding and supports to assist the organisation in delivering vital services for many years. However, over time, governance and financial challenges have been the focus of concern and attention of all State funders. Notwithstanding these concerns, and to ensure the organisation could continue to provide services, all funders continued to make funding available while allowing the identified issues to be addressed. All funders have a responsibility to ensure that public funds are used appropriately, transparently and in line with good governance standards. The effective stewardship of public resources is essentially not only for accountability, but also to maintain public trust, and safeguard the continuity of services for vulnerable communities. It was for that reason that public funders of STAG commissioned an independent finance and governance review of the organisation, which commenced in mid-October 2025. The review had not been completed at the time of the board's announcement.

The Minister wishes to acknowledged the work of everyone involved with STAG over many years to represent and advocate for the local Traveller community in south County Dublin. Its contribution has made a real impact in the lives of many individuals and families who are among those in most need within society. At this point, each of the State funders will assess the implications of the board's decision and, in so doing, will be conscious of the need to ensure services are delivered for the community. In this regard, it is vital that services and advocacy support remain accessible, and the needs of Traveller communities continue to be prioritised and met.

Sinéad Gibney (Dublin Rathdown, Social Democrats)
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I thank the Minister of State. The Minister of State mentioned the governance issues that have arisen. This organisation has operated for 40 years and the governance and running of the organisation was done very well during that time. I have worked with many of these groups and it is against all odds sometimes that they survive with very little funding, a lot of volunteer power, and community spirit driving them forward. The has been operating and functioning well as an organisation for many decades. It is crucial to not to lose sight of that while dealing with the current issues that arise. I am seeking assurance that, as the Minister of State mentioned all the funders being conscious of the need to ensure services are delivered to the community, that they remain accessible and that the needs of the Traveller community continue to be prioritised and met.

That means those services must be provided by alternative organisations, by the council and by funding that comes from elsewhere across Government while this issue is being dealt with.

I appreciate this is a complex issue and something that needs input from multiple sources but I want to make sure some of the good work is not lost in regard to things like the lease this organisation has, which I believe may be under threat if we do not get a solution in place fast enough. This is the kind of thing I would urge Government and the Minister to look at to make sure the 40 years of really hard work by the Southside Travellers Action Group is not lost because of the crisis that arisen over the past year or so. For me, the difficulty is that we know how hard it is. This is one of the first groups that was ever set up to provide these services to Travellers in Ireland. The thought that we would lose that infrastructure and continuity is really devastating. One thing I really want to emphasise is that the Minister should really seek to maintain that continuity.

Robert Troy (Longford-Westmeath, Fianna Fail)
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Again, I thank the Deputy for raising this important issue, which is a priority for the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality and, indeed, for the whole of Government. The Minister acknowledges the staff, volunteers and community members who have worked with commitment and dedication over many years to advance the rights and well-being of Travellers in the Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown area. Their efforts, often in challenging circumstances, have made a real difference to so many lives. This includes the significant contribution made by Southside Travellers Action Group in supporting local Traveller families after the tragic fire that occurred at a halting site in Carrickmines in October 2015, which the Deputy also acknowledged.

The Minister and the Government are committed to working towards the effective inclusion of Travellers in all aspects of Irish life, most immediately through implementation of the National Traveller and Roma Inclusion Strategy II 2024-2028. Strong community organisations advocating for and representing local Traveller communities are essential elements in that strategy. In their response to the situation at the Southside Travellers Action Group, the public funding organisations, including the Department, will be very conscious of the need to ensure that services are delivered to the community. I will relay the messages the Deputy brought here this evening, particularly in relation to the lease of the existing premises.

On a wider level, the Minister and her officials will continue to take steps under the National Traveller and Roma Inclusion Strategy II 2024-2028 to strengthen the supports available to local organisations to help them meet the governance and financial requirements that go hand in hand with public funding while at the same time, supporting their most necessary efforts to represent the genuine and authentic voice of local Traveller communities.