Tithe an Oireachtais

AN COMHCHOISTE UM SHAINCHEISTEANNA RÍTHÁBHACHTACHA A THÉANN I GCION AR AN LUCHT SIÚIL

SAMHAIN 2019 ______

JOINT COMMITTEE ON KEY ISSUES AFFECTING THE TRAVELLER COMMUNITY

Interim Report of the Joint Committee on Key Issues affecting the Traveller Community

November 2019

Tithe an Oireachtais

An Comhchoiste um Shaincheisteanna Ríthábhachtacha a théann i gcion ar an Lucht Siúil

Samhain 2019 ______

Joint Committee on Key Issues affecting the Traveller Community

Interim Report of the Joint Committee on Key Issues affecting the Traveller Community

November 2019

Table of Contents

CHAIR’S FOREWORD ...... 1

INTRODUCTION ...... 4

COMMITTEE OBJECTIVES ...... 5

POSSIBLE RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE JOINT COMMITTEE ...... 6

PUBLIC CONSULTATIONS TO DATE ...... 9

APPENDICES ...... 12

CHAIR’S FOREWORD

In May 2019, the Joint Committee on Key Issues affecting the Traveller Community was established with the aim of achieving cross-party consensus, based on human rights principles, on policy directions in respect of key issues affecting the Traveller community. This interim report outlines the Joint Committee’s proposed goals, work schedule and approach to its work.

The Joint Committee agreed to carry out its work by inviting submissions and presentations from the Traveller community and others; examine current statutory and departmental responses, including policy, resources and law; researching and identifying models of good practice, nationally and internationally; and establishing parameters to gather relevant data and make recommendations, with a focus given to the views of the Traveller community.

The Joint Committee has held a number of meetings to date with relevant stakeholders from the Traveller community, public sector bodies, various organisations and other individuals. The initial focus of the Joint Committee has been on the mental and physical health of Travellers and suicide levels in the Traveller community. What is clear from the outset is that there is a mental health crisis in the Traveller community, with a suicide rate that is six times higher than that of wider society in Ireland. It has also been reported that 82% of the Traveller community has been affected by suicide.

The Minister of State with responsibility for mental health and older people, Mr. Jim Daly T.D., acknowledged that there is a mental health crisis within the Traveller community at a meeting of the Joint Committee on 15 October 2019 and he gave commitments to work with the Joint Committee to address this issue. Regarding the mental health and well-being of the Traveller community, the Joint Committee will be advocating for improved mental health services which are adequate to the scale of the crisis and include Traveller-led mental health services, which are funded, resourced and culturally appropriate. Traveller-led health initiatives, organisations and peer support workers build trust within the community and from this is a willingness to engage more public services. 111111

The mortality rate of Travellers is 3.5 times higher than the general population, with Traveller men on average dying 15.1 years before their settled counterparts. The difference between women from both ethnicities is 11.5 years. Shockingly, the infant mortality rate is almost 3.7 times higher than that of the settled population. There are data deficiencies on Traveller mental and physical health, and the 2010 All Ireland Traveller Health Study needs to be updated. Peer-led approaches to collecting data on minority and hard to reach groups should be examined. The Joint Committee recognises that deep health inequalities exist for Travellers who experience racism and discrimination by the health system when accessing health care and that these need to be addressed as a matter of priority.

The area of mental health, suicide levels and physical health of the community is the first topic to be considered by the Joint Committee. The Joint Committee also intends to examine comparable inequalities that exist in education, employment and accommodation. While all factors within the social determinants of health are important, accommodation was highlighted as the key issue causing health inequalities for Travellers. Poor living conditions directly impact a person’s physical and mental health and general well-being. Travellers need to be central to the design and delivery of services to Travellers in strategies and initiatives addressing health and mental health inequalities.

Members of the Traveller community who have appeared before the Joint Committee have spoken in depth about the discrimination and racism they face on a daily basis. Every Traveller who has contributed to the Joint Committee’s examination of the issue has explained that they have experienced discrimination when trying to access services, in areas such as health and education, and in general aspects of daily life such as grocery shopping.

The Traveller community has informed the Joint Committee that it is willing to engage with and assist the development of policies and decisions that affect the community. The Joint Committee will endeavour to ensure that the Traveller community is given a forum to ensure Travellers’ opinions and 111112 experiences are heard and that these are given significant consideration when the Joint Committee drafts its recommendations at the conclusion of this process. The Joint Committee and Traveller community are in agreement that the time for action is now and political inaction is no longer acceptable.

We, as a Joint Committee, would like to thank all of those who have made submissions and those who have appeared before the Joint Committee to assist with our deliberations. We are grateful for their engagement with the Joint Committee.

On behalf of the Joint Committee I wish to formally request that this report be debated in the Dáil and the Seanad at the earliest possible opportunity.

______Senator Chair Joint Committee on Key Issues affecting the Traveller Community

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INTRODUCTION

The Joint Committee on Key Issues affecting the Traveller Community was established by Order of the Dáil on 30 May 2019 and by Order of the Seanad on 12 June 2019.

Meetings to Date The first meeting of the Joint Committee took place on 25 June 2019 in private session. The Joint Committee’s 13 Members elected Senator Colette Kelleher to serve as Chair. The Joint Committee also elected Senator as Vice-Chair at the same meeting.

The Joint Committee held a number of private meetings where it agreed the Work Programme for the duration of the Joint Committee’s existence. Members also attended a Traveller culture awareness workshop.

The Traveller culture awareness workshop was provided by: • Ms Anne Burke, Co-Ordinator, Traveller Culture Awareness Training, and • Ms Breda O’Donoghue, Co-Ordinator, Traveller Culture Awareness Training

The Joint Committee began its public consultations with stakeholders on 24 June 2019 by requesting submissions on the topic of mental health and suicide levels in the Traveller community. The Joint Committee continues to meet weekly and in accordance with its Work Programme.

Interim Report The Orders establishing the Joint Committee require the Joint Committee to produce an interim report, which shall contain its proposed work schedule, within two months of its first public meeting.

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Final Report The Joint Committee is required to present a final report to both Houses of the Oireachtas by 25 February 2020, whereupon the Joint Committee shall stand dissolved.

Work Schedule Regarding its work schedule, a consensus emerged that stakeholder sessions should be organised on a modular basis dictated by topic, which are outlined in the main body of this report.

COMMITTEE OBJECTIVES

The Joint Committee shall undertake to examine key issues affecting the Traveller community by:

a) Inviting submissions and presentations from the Traveller community;

b) Examining current statutory, non-statutory and departmental responses, including policy, resources and law;

c) Researching and identify models of good practice nationally and internationally;

d) Establishing parameters to gather relevant data; and

e) Making recommendations, taking into account the views of the Traveller community.

The Joint Committee shall aim for consensus, based on human rights principles, on policy directions in respect of the following key issues affecting the Traveller Community, as directed by the Establishment Order, under the following headings:

a) physical health, mental health and suicide levels;

b) school completion rates and educational attainment, particularly at second and third level, compared to the settled population; 111115

c) labour market participation, having regard to the unemployment rate of 80% among the Traveller community; and

d) access to housing and accommodation, including Traveller-specific accommodation, in the context of the significantly higher homelessness rate among Travellers compared to the settled population.

3. The deadline by which the Joint Committee on Key Issues affecting the Traveller Community must report back to the House(s) is 25 February 2020.

POSSIBLE RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE JOINT COMMITTEE

The following are a sample of the possible recommendations that the Joint Committee may make in its final report at this stage of its deliberations:

1. Mandatory cultural awareness training across all State services that engage with the Traveller community.

2. Prioritise and implement an ethnic identifier across all health and State services to monitor participation, equality of access and outcomes for members of the Traveller community.

3. Establish a national Traveller mental health strategy which includes full implementation of existing strategies and recommendations for mental health with ring-fenced funding and institutional mechanisms to ensure implementation in collaboration with the Traveller community through the establishment of a national Traveller mental health steering group.

4. A ring-fenced health budget for the Traveller community within the Health Services Executive (HSE) that cannot under any circumstances be appropriated to make up for shortfalls elsewhere within the HSE which includes supports for the Traveller NGO sector involved in Traveller health

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and engages their expertise in the allocation of the budget and development of a national strategy.

5. Increased funding for the expansion of mental health services for Travellers, including but not limited to, the delivery of peer-led Traveller- specific mental health supports through Traveller Primary Health Care Projects and other Traveller led and Traveller specific initiatives in local areas to provide timely interventions in relation to poor mental health, to provide appropriate interventions in the event of an attempted suicide, and in providing supports to the family members in terms of bereavement following a suicide.

6. Prioritise funding to examine the distinct needs of young members of the Traveller community who are vulnerable to suicide and expand and develop Traveller youth mental health pilot projects and develop an initiative to train peer support outreach workers within the community.

7. Develop the capacity of the Traveller community to lead changes in the development and implementation of strategies to improve Travellers’ mental health and reduce suicide levels.

8. Support the continuation of the Traveller Counselling Service as a specialist organisation for Travellers’ mental health and provider of Traveller specific counselling as per recommendation 93 of the 2017 National Traveller and Roma Inclusion Strategy (NTRIS) and support the expansion of culturally appropriate counselling services with members of the Traveller community as therapists.

9. A full progress review on the implementation of recommendations of the National Traveller and Roma Inequality Study 2017-20211 to be carried out with clear timelines given as to when these recommendations will be implemented.

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10. Reinstate the Traveller Health Advisory Committee and appoint a Department lead on Traveller health and mental health to monitor and progress actions across Departments and initiatives.

11. Publish and implement the National Traveller Health Action Plan as a matter of urgency, including the establishment of an institutional mechanism with the HSE and the Department of Health to drive its delivery and implementation. The plan must be inclusive of clear targets, indicators, outcomes, timeframes and budgetary resources, and include a holistic and gender responsive approach and allocate a clear budget to address Traveller health inequalities at national level.

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PUBLIC CONSULTATIONS TO DATE

The Joint Committee on Key Issues affecting the Traveller Community met the following stakeholders on the following dates:

24 September 2019 Mental Health and Suicide Levels

Mr. Martin Reilly, Traveller Mental Health Network Ms Brigid Quilligan, Kerry Traveller Health Community Development Project

Mr. Bernard Joyce, Irish Traveller Movement

Ms Minnie Connors, Wexford Traveller Development Group

Mr. Anthony Walsh, Wexford Traveller Development Group

Mr. Patrick Reilly, Pavee Point

8 October 2019 Mental Health and Suicide Levels

Mr. Thomas McCann, Traveller Counselling Service Ms Niamh Keating, Co-ordinator West Limerick Primary Health Care Project

Ms Bridget Kelly, Deputy Co-ordinator, Galway Traveller Movement

Ms Allyson Coogan, Exchange House Ireland

Ms Sandra McDonagh, Offaly Traveller Movement

Ms Maria Carnicer, Exchange House Ireland

15 October 2019 Mental Health and Suicide Levels Mr. Jim Daly, T.D., Minister of State at the Department of Health with responsibility for mental health and older people Senator Joan Freeman, Seanad Éireann

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Mr. David Maguire, Principal Officer, Health Unit, Department of Health Ms Kate Mitchell, Mental Health Reform

Dr. Brian Keogh, Trinity College Dublin

Dr. Aileen Tierney, Clanwilliam Institute

Mr. John Meehan, Head of National Office for Suicide Prevention, HSE

Dr. Siobhán Ní Bhriain, National Clinical Advisor and Group Lead, Mental Health, HSE

22 October 2019 General Health Ms Brigid Quirke, Pavee Point

Ms Maria Joyce, National Traveller Women's Forum

Ms Kathleen Sherlock, Minceir Whiden

Ms Missy Collins, Primary Health Care for Travellers Projects

Ms Nora Mooney, Kilmallock Traveller Women’s Group

Mr. Jim Walsh, Principal Officer, Drugs Policy and Social Inclusion Unit, Department of Health

Ms Dairearca Ní Néill, Assistant Principal Officer, Drugs Policy and Social Inclusion Unit, Department of Health

5 November 2019 General Health Ms Breda O'Donoghue, Director of Advocacy, Traveller Visibility Group Ms Liz McGrath, Health Team Co-ordinator, Traveller Visibility Group

Ms Siobhán McArdle, Head of Operations, Primary Care, Health Service Executive

Ms Concepta De Brun, HSE Social Inclusion

Ms Deirdre O’Reilly, HSE, Co-ordinator Traveller Health Unit

Dr. Mary Favier, President, Irish College of General Practitioners

Dr. Tony Cox, Medical Director, Irish College of General Practitioners

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Numerous submissions have also been received on the topics of mental health and health which will be incorporated in the summary reports on each module and the Joint Committee’s final report.

The Joint Committee has begun its consideration of the topic of education and a number of stakeholders will make submissions and presentations over the coming weeks. The Joint Committee intends to begin its consideration of the topic of employment before Christmas, concluding this module and moving onto the accommodation module in January 2020.

The Joint Committee intends to issue progress updates following its consideration of each module, which will inform the final report. The Joint Committee intends to complete its deliberations and present its final report to both Houses of the Oireachtas in February 2020.

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APPENDICES

Membership of the Joint Committee on Key Issues Affecting the Traveller Community

Deputies:

Colm Brophy TD (FG) Joan Collins TD (I4C) Marcella Corcoran Kennedy TD (FG) Martin Ferris TD (SF) Gino Kenny TD (SPBP) Éamon Ó Cuív TD (FF)

Senators: (FG) Ray Butler (FG) Colette Kelleher (Ind) Chair Lynn Ruane (IND) Vice-Chair (SF)

Notes: 1. Deputies nominated by the Dáil Committee of Selection and appointed by Order of the Dáil of 30 May 2019. 2. Senators nominated by the Seanad Committee of Selection and appointed by Order of the Seanad on 12 June 2019.

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Membership of the Joint Committee on Key Issues Affecting the Traveller Community Deputies

Colm Brophy TD Joan Collins TD Marcella Martin Ferris TD (FG) (I4C) Corcoran (SF) Kennedy TD (FG)

Éamon Ó’Cuiv TD Fiona O’Loughlin Gino Kenny TD (FF) TD (FF) (SPBP) Senators

Sen. Colette Sen. Fintan Sen. Lynne Ruane Sen Jennifer Kelleher (Ind) Warfield (SF) (IND) Murnane O’Connor Chair (FF)

Sen Ray Butler Sen Paudie Coffey (FG) (FG)

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Special Joint Committee on Key Issues affecting the Traveller Community Terms of Reference – June 2019

That, notwithstanding anything in Standing Orders— (1) Dáil Éireann hereby appoints a Special Committee (hereinafter referred to as ‘the Committee’), to be joined with a Special Committee to be appointed by Seanad Éireann, to form the Joint Committee on Key Issues affecting the Traveller Community; (2) the Joint Committee shall aim for consensus, based on human rights principles, on policy directions in respect of the following key issues affecting the Traveller Community— (a) physical health, mental health and suicide levels; (b) school completion rates and educational attainment, particularly at second and third-level compared to the settled population; (c) labour market participation, having regard to the unemployment rate of 80 per cent among Travellers; and (d) access to housing and accommodation, including Traveller-specific accommodation, in the context of the significantly higher homelessness rate among Travellers compared to the settled population; and shall report thereon to both Houses of the Oireachtas in accordance with paragraph (9); (3) in carrying out its role under paragraph (2), the Joint Committee shall— (a) invite submissions and presentations from the Traveller Community; (b) examine current statutory, non-statutory and Departmental responses, including policy, resources and law; (c) research and identify models of good practice nationally and internationally; (d) establish parameters to gather relevant data; and (e) make recommendations, taking into account the views of the Traveller Community;

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(4) the Committee shall not exceed seven members of Dáil Éireann, as follows: (a) two members appointed by the Government; (b) two members appointed by Fianna Fáil; (c) one member appointed by Sinn Féin; and (d) two members appointed from among other parties and groups; (5) the Ceann Comhairle shall announce the names of the members appointed under paragraph (4) for the information of the Dáil on the first sitting day following their appointment; (6) the quorum of the Joint Committee shall be four, at least one of whom shall be a member of Dáil Éireann, and one a member of Seanad Éireann; (7) the Joint Committee shall elect one of its members to be Chairman; (8) the Joint Committee shall have the powers defined in Standing Order 85(1), (2), (3), (4), (5), (7), (8) and (9); and (9) the Joint Committee shall— (a) make an interim report, which shall contain its proposed work programme, to both Houses of the Oireachtas within two months of its first meeting in public; and (b) make its final report to both Houses of the Oireachtas within six months of its first meeting in public and shall thereupon stand dissolved.

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