Jennifer Carroll MacNeill (Dún Laoghaire, Fine Gael)
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190. To ask the Minister for Health the status of the delivery of the National Traveller Health Action Plan; the status of the HSE steering group on this plan; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45336/21]

Frank Feighan (Sligo-Leitrim, Fine Gael)
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The National Traveller and Roma Inclusion Strategy (NTRIS) is the Government policy framework for addressing the health and other needs of Travellers. It contains over 30 health-related actions across four themes. The Dept of Health and the HSE are represented on the steering committee for NTRIS and report on a regular basis on the various health actions.

A key health action in NTRIS (#73) is to develop and implement a detailed action plan to address the specific health needs of Travellers, using a social determinants approach. The lead role in developing the action plan rests with the HSE, in conjunction with Traveller organisations. The Programme for Government also includes a commitment to implement a National Traveller Health Action plan.

I understand that last year the HSE established a steering committee, which included representatives of Traveller organisations, to finalise the plan. The committee recently submitted a draft plan to the HSE national director for Community Strategy and Planning. I am advised that consideration of the plan and its resource implications has been delayed by the prioritisation of the rollout of the Covid-19 vaccination programme.

I look forward to receiving the agreed action plan and I am fully committed to providing the leadership and resources to ensure the implementation of the plan by the HSE.

The details requested by the Deputy are operational in nature and accordingly I have referred the question to the HSE for direct reply to the Deputy.

Jennifer Carroll MacNeill (Dún Laoghaire, Fine Gael)
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191. To ask the Minister for Health the breakdown in spending on the €2.1 million allocation in Budget 2021 to enhance access to health services for socially excluded groups with an emphasis on the €270,000 allocated to expand Traveller health units; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45337/21]

Frank Feighan (Sligo-Leitrim, Fine Gael)
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In Budget 2021, €2.1m was allocated to enhance access to health services for socially excluded groups. This funding will be used to improve access to healthcare services for the Roma community and other vulnerable migrants, to expand Traveller health units, to enhance healthcare services for asylum seekers and refugees living in direct provision and for initiatives for victims of domestic violence and the LGBTI+ community.

The HSE has responsibility for the delivery of these measures and its priority actions are set out in the national service plan 2021.

The level of funding released for delivery of these measures is subject to the submission, review, approval and commencement date for the measures. The drawdown of this funding has been recently approved by the Department of Health.

As the detail requested by the Deputy relate to operational and service matters, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.