All Ireland Traveller Health Study Our Geels - Department of Health ...

All Ireland Traveller Health Study
In addition to training sessions, there were also regular information meetings with various stakeholders
in the year leading up to the census visits both in the ROI and NI. These were held at regional and
national level to provide updates/information and feedback on the process. These included briefings
with both National and Regional Traveller Networks (for example, the National Traveller Reference
Group, NTHN, and An Munia Tober), the HSE (for example, the National Liaison Group, and the network
of nurses working with Travellers) and the TSG and Northern Ireland Stakeholder Groups were also kept
abreast of developments as they occurred.
The Lead-up to the Census
In the weeks leading up to the Republic of Ireland census and the Northern Ireland census, the UCD
study team, with the support of the Primary Health Care Projects and equivalent groups, disseminated
flyers announcing the census date. The UCD study team also worked with representative Traveller
organisations (Pavee Point and An Munia Tober) to produce leaflets with more detailed discussion on
the study for dissemination both in the Republic and Northern Ireland. The Traveller Networks worked
tirelessly to ensure that each and every Irish Traveller on the island was aware of and fully informed of
the nature and purpose of the study in advance of the census visits.
The study team also worked with the HSE to develop and disseminate additional leaflets at the census
visits outlining the process and purpose of the birth cohort study specifically. Other stakeholders were
alerted to the study both through correspondence with relevant groups, and through the media. For
instance, GPs were informed of the study through the Irish College of General Practitioners (ICGP), and
through an article in the September 2008 issue of ‘Forum’ magazine. In addition, both the DHSSPSNI
and the HSE publicised the start of the census in their respective areas through their respective
networks (e.g., the HSE Intranet)
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