Charlie O'Connor (Dublin South West, Fianna Fail)
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Question 584: To ask the Minister for Health and Children the details of any Traveller health initiatives undertaken by her; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [39023/09]

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Independent)
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Traveller health status is a cause of concern with Travellers experiencing higher levels of mortality and morbidity than the population in general leading to a lower life expectancy. The provision of targeted health services for travellers has long been a priority for my Department and for the HSE. Additional development funding of over €12 million has been allocated for traveller health services since 1997. There are a number of specific initiatives as follows. Traveller Health Units: There are eight such units, operating in each HSE area, in partnership with local Traveller organisations with equal representation of members of the Travelling community and representatives of the HSE and other agencies. Traveller Health Advisory Committee: This committee was set up in 1998 with the primary function of advising the Minister on policy in relation to Traveller health. It comprises representatives from the HSE, the Department of Health and Children and from Traveller organisations, including members of the Travelling community. The committee's main functions are:

drawing up a national policy for a health strategy to improve the health status of the Traveller community;

ensuring that Traveller health is a priority area within the Department of Health and Children and setting targets against which performance can be measured;

ensuring co-ordination and liaison in the implementation of national strategies of relevance to the health status of Travellers;

ensuring the co-ordination, collection and collation of data on Traveller health;

supporting health boards in developing strategies to improve Traveller access to health services;

providing a forum for the discussion of health initiatives for Travellers and for on-going consultation with Travellers and Traveller organisations on health service delivery to Travellers;

liaising with Traveller Health Units and the formulation of national policy.

"Traveller Health – A National Strategy 2002-2005": This document aimed to improve the health status of Travellers. Although the period covered by the Strategy has expired, its actions continue to be implemented. The Traveller Health Advisory Committee plays a key role in its implementation.

Primary Healthcare Projects: These projects play a key role in the delivery of health services to Travellers. The projects were initiated in 1994 as a joint partnership initiative with the former Eastern Health Board and Pavee Point. There are currently over 40 such projects established around the country with over 450 participants. In particular, the projects:

provide a model for Traveller participation in the development of health services;

train and employ Traveller women as community health workers;

enable primary health care to be developed based on Traveller values so that positive, long-term outcomes are achieved.

Primary healthcare training has recently been accredited by FÁS at FETAC level 3.

Inter-Departmental Co-operation: My Department is represented on the High Level Group on Traveller Issues and on the National Traveller Monitoring and Advisory Committee: both these bodies operate under the aegis of the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform.

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My Department, together with the Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety in Northern Ireland, commissioned the All-Ireland Traveller Health Study, which commenced in 2007. This is a comprehensive study of the health and social status of the Traveller community in Ireland. The study will be completed in 2010 and the findings will be used to evaluate progress to date with regard to Traveller health and to plan future policy in the area. The Study, which is costing in the order of €1.7 million, is being conducted by UCD. The elements of the study include-

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a census of the Traveller population;

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an examination of the health status of Travellers;

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a quantitative study on the factors influencing the health status of Travellers and their access to health services;

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a quantitative study on the perceptions and attitudes of service providers towards Travellers and their health;

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a review of services with a view to ascertaining best practice;

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a qualitative exploration of health status, uptake of health and social services, health needs and health determinants as perceived by Travellers;

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a qualitative exploration of health status, uptake of health and social services, health needs and health determinants as perceived by service providers.

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While the health of members of the Travelling community continues to present challenges, a wide range of initiatives have been put in place to address this issue and my Department will continue its active involvement in this important matter.