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

All Ireland Traveller Health Study
Context of Findings:
Comparable Datasets
The AITHS has provided a unique and comprehensive overview of the demographic, social, economic
and health position of the Travelling community in Ireland, both in the Republic of Ireland (ROI) and
Northern Ireland (NI). However, to adequately frame this picture in context, a comparative narrative is
needed.
Social and Living Conditions of
Traveller Families
General Summary
The majority of respondents, 75.9% in ROI and 94.3% in NI, lived in family units of 5 or less. Respondents
most frequently lived in a house (73.3% ROI, 55.4% NI), followed by trailer/mobile home or caravan
(18.2% ROI, 23.8% NI). In ROI housing was most frequently provided by a local authority (57.1%),
whereas in NI accommodation was provided by the housing executive (50.9%). Most homes comprised
2 to 4 rooms (78.8% ROI and 82.9% NI). Most of the houses and flats had central heating (92.9% ROI and
95.8% NI). Most accommodation had both hot and cold water, (94.4% ROI and 85.6% NI), an individual
bath or shower (63.7% ROI and 78.5% NI), and flush toilet (91.6% ROI and 84.4% NI).
Rubbish collection was weekly in 61.6% of ROI families but fortnightly for most NI households (70.9%).
Most also received post delivered to their home (96.9% ROI and 90.7% NI), which arrived regularly in
97.5% of households in both jurisdictions. In ROI 23.3% of families and 18.0% families in NI had no
transport. A majority in both jurisdictions (56.8% ROI and 62.3% NI) said they last moved for personal
choice, the next most frequent reason being for better facilities (39.7% ROI and 26.1% NI).
Considerable numbers of families who lived in Group Housing or sites reported a lack of footpaths,
public lighting, fire hydrants and safe play areas, the latter being unavailable for 77.5% of ROI and 79.9%
of NI respondents. A quarter of families (24.4% ROI and 24.8% NI) considered where they lived to be
unhealthy or very unhealthy, and again appreciable numbers (26.4% ROI and 29.0% NI) considered their
place of residence unsafe.
Difficulty in reading and filling out forms was reported by 28.8% of ROI families and 35.3% of those
in NI. However, 95.5% of ROI and 89.8% of NI family respondents could calculate change from a Euro
or pound note, as relevant. In the past year 78.5% of ROI and 62.6% of NI families had not travelled at
all, and of those who did, this occurred most frequently in the summer period in both jurisdictions,
peaking in June and July.
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