David Stanton (Cork East, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 123: To ask the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs the further plans he has to improve circumstances of the Traveller community; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7636/06]

Noel Ahern (Dublin North West, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

My Department funds a number of projects which provide Traveller support and aim to improve the circumstances of the Traveller community. The details are given in the following table.

Travellers are one of a number of target groups that benefit under the community development programme. While a significant number of the 185 projects within the programme would identify Travellers among beneficiaries of their activities, services, 20 projects specifically focus on providing Traveller support. Training courses, support groups, provision of information, work experience, and child care provision are examples of the type of supports typically made available.

The local development social inclusion programme, LDSIP, aims to counter disadvantage and to promote equality and social and economic inclusion through the provision of funding and support to local partnerships. Area partnerships and community partnerships across the country run programmes and courses that specifically target the Traveller community under the LDSIP. These include projects that meet the needs of Traveller men concerning stabling, training and economics of their horses and also acts as a forum for development work with Traveller men; primary health care training, preparing Traveller women to be health promotion workers in their community and also works with Traveller men, through training; dedicated homework clubs for and youth workers for Traveller children; projects that aim to provide family support and educational opportunities for Travellers; and active citizen initiatives. Also, Navan Travellers workshop, a community partnership set up with a primary focus on the Traveller community, received €168,000 through LDSIP in 2005.

My Department is also represented on the high level group on Travellers' issues, whose report is due to be published shortly. The Department will play its part in the implementation of the recommendations of this report. Traveller-specific groups funded under community and local development programme 2005.

Funding scheme to support the role of federations, networks and umbrella bodies in the community and voluntary sector is as follows: National Traveller Women's Forum, €141,000 over three years 2003-06, €47,000 per annum. Programme of support to national anti-poverty networks is as follows: Irish Traveller Movement, €300,440 over two years 2005-06, €150,220 per annum. Training and supports scheme is as follows: The National Association of Travellers Centres, €105,000 over three years 2003-06, €35,000 per annum, Exchange House Travellers Service, €60,000 over three years 2003-06, €20,000 per annum.

The social economy programme transferred to my Department on 1 January 2006. I have renamed this programme the community services programme to reflect the fact that I intend to change the nature of the programme from a labour market training scheme to a scheme to provide support for essential community services. I have secured an additional €5 million to fund new projects in 2006. Projects to support the economic integration of Travellers will be eligible to apply to apply for this funding.