Hildegarde Naughton (Galway West, Fine Gael)
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The Traveller Health Advisory Committee (THAC) was disbanded in 2013 following a review of its operation. The creation of the HSE in 2006 resulted in significant changes to the functioning of THAC, especially in the area of funding and project allocation, which were transferred to the HSE.

The approach of the Department of Health with regards to Traveller health is to ensure that Travellers are mainstreamed in department policies and strategies. In 2023, the Department and the HSE published the national Traveller Health Action Plan.

The Department sits on the implementation group for the National Traveller Health Action Plan, which meets quarterly. The Department also hosts quarterly engagement meetings with to monitor progress of the plan’s implementation.

The Department sits on the steering committee for the National Traveller and Roma Inclusion Strategy (NTRIS). It is responsible for reporting on health actions in NTRIS, and is currently contributing to the drafting the new NTRIS.

Hildegarde Naughton (Galway West, Fine Gael)
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The principal officer in the Drugs Policy and Social Inclusion Unit in the Department of Health is responsible for Traveller health. The Mental Health Unit in the Department is responsible for Traveller mental health.

The HSE is responsible for the provision of healthcare services for Travellers. This is overseen by the National Social Inclusion Office. The HSE has established the implementation group for the National Traveller Health Action Plan, which meets quarterly, at least. The Department of Health is represented on this group. It also hosts quarterly engagement meetings with the HSE to monitor progress of the plan.

The Drugs Policy and Social Unit works across the Department to ensure that health needs of Travellers are represented in relevant departmental policies, including Healthy Ireland, Positive Ageing Strategy, Sharing the Vision/Connecting for Life, Reducing Harm Supporting Recovery, Sláintecare and Creating a Better Future Together.

Hildegarde Naughton (Galway West, Fine Gael)
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The HSE has a ring-fenced budget of €10 million for the provision of Traveller-specific health services. This is separate from the funding provided for general healthcare services that are availed of by the Traveller community, eg GMS, public health, acute hospitals, etc.

In Budget 2021, €270,000 was allocated to expand Traveller health units, as a first phase of the Traveller health action plan

In 2022, the Department allocated an additional €365,000 for Traveller mental health engagement, a further €55,000 was awarded for a peer-led research project to develop a Traveller mental wellness continuum framework. Funding of €500,000 was provided to increase access and provision of community drug and alcohol services, with a focus on services Travellers, women and LGBTI+.

In Budget 2023, the Dept of Health allocated an additional €1.3 million to the HSE to commence the implementation of the National Traveller Health Action Plan, with €300k of this being specifically allocated for Traveller mental health.

The Dept provided €500,000 for projects working with Traveller women at risk of homelessness from the Women’s Health Fund for the period 2023-2024. The Department proposes to commence an initiative to address the social determinants of Traveller health in conjunction with the Sláintecare healthy communities programme. Total funding of €710,000 from Dormant Accounts will be provided for this initiative in 2024 & 2025.

With regards to Budget 2024, Minister Butler allocated additional non-core funding to expand the Traveller Counselling Service, in line with action 27 in the THAP and action 2.3.3 in Connecting for Life. This targeted measure demonstrates the joined-up approach to Traveller health between mental health and inclusion health policy units in the Dept.

I and Minister Butler are fully committed to providing the leadership and resources to support the implementation of the national Traveller health action plan.

Mary Butler (Waterford, Fianna Fail)
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As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.

As the Deputy may be aware, management and administrative grade staff in the Fórsa union in the HSE commenced industrial action on Friday, 6 October. As a consequence of this industrial action, members in these grades are not engaging with political forums or processes. As a result, the question asked by the Deputy may be delayed in receiving a response directly from the HSE.