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

All Ireland Traveller Health Study
Travellers Health: A National Strategy 2002 - 2005
This strategy is very significant in that it represents a change in national policy towards Travellers. It
firstly recognises Travellers as a distinct minority group in Irish society with a health status far below the
general population and having specific health needs.
‘Travellers are particularly disadvantaged in terms of health status and access to health services. Generally
speaking, they suffer poor health on a level which compares so unfavourably with the settled community that
it would probably be unacceptable to any section thereof’ (Department of Health and Children, 2002).
The strategy contains 122 actions that were to be implemented over a 4-year period, from 2002 to
2005. To date, some of the key recommendations that have been implemented are the establishment
of the national and regional Traveller Health Structures, which have facilitated the development of
Traveller Health initiatives at local level. It recognises the role that primary healthcare projects have had
in addressing Traveller health issues and it recommends their replication throughout the country.
‘Primary healthcare for Traveller Projects will be developed in conjunction with Traveller organisations in
all Health Board areas where there is a significant Traveller population by the end of 2005’ (Department of
Health and Children, 2002).
Since 2002, 40 PHCTPs have been established around the country and they have trained more than 300
Traveller women as TCHWs.
National Drugs Strategy (NDS) (interim) 2009-2016
The National Drugs Strategy acknowledges the concerns over the growing problem drug use. Data
is not available to indicate the number of Travellers who present for treatment as heretofore Travellers
have not been recorded as a distinct group under the National Drug Treatment Service (NDTRS)
(Department of Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs, 2009).
However, in research commissioned by the National Advisory Committee on Drugs (NACD), Fountain
(2006) found that the prevalence pattern broadly mirrors that of the general population, with cannabis,
sedatives and tranquillisers most commonly used, followed by cocaine, ecstasy and lastly, heroin.
The issues experienced by Travellers in relation to drugs are entwined with issues of inequality and
marginalisation. This means that Travellers are more likely to be exposed to the risk factors that lead to
problem drug use. It also implies that response mechanisms to address the associated problems need
to factor in these issues. There are heightened concerns within the Traveller community about the
growth in problem drug use. This is also acknowledged by the HSE as a key and growing concern. The
NDS also acknowledged that Travellers face specific problems that stem from a ‘lack of awareness of the
existence and nature of drug services, lack of formal education, stigma and embarrassment, and lack of
culturally appropriate provision’ (Fountain, 2006).
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