Technical Report - Donegal Traveller's Project

All Ireland Traveller Health StudyThese population pyramids illustrate a very different profile for the Traveller population than the generalIrish population. Whilst the general population pyramid is increasingly typical of Westernised developedcountries, with relatively large numbers of middle-aged people and increasing numbers of old people,the Traveller population is more reminiscent of a pyramid of a developing country, characterised byhigh fertility and premature mortality. The 2006 census also published a detailed profile of non-Irishnational persons living in Ireland (Central Statistics Office, 2007c). In contrast with Travellers, thesepyramids emphasised patterns classically associated with immigration, with large numbers of youngpeople, particularly males. One challenge in the All Ireland Traveller Health Study was to undertakeas accurate a census as possible with the highest level of ascertainment to update the informationavailable from 1987 and to conduct also a vital statistics exercise that gave as accurate as possible apicture of prevailing fertility and mortality patterns.Review of the Policy Contexts Framing theAll Ireland Traveller Health StudyThe following section describes some important policy statements regarding Traveller health andwell being, by the domains of accommodation and living conditions, education and literacy, incomeadequacy, cultural and ethnic identity, and lifestyle and health choices. A number of studies relatingto the Traveller group are also commented upon, as well as policy statements that relate to overallTraveller status and wellbeing.Accommodation and Living ConditionsProvision of Traveller-Specific AccommodationA number of policy developments have been undertaken in the area of Traveller accommodationsince 1995, such as the establishment of Local and National Traveller Accommodation ConsultativeCommittees (NTACC) and the Traveller Accommodation Unit in the Department of the Environment(National Traveller Accommodation Consultative Committee, 2008).The issue of Traveller accommodation has long been contentious (MacLoughlin, 1995). The Travelleraccommodation crisis has been highlighted repeatedly in Government and other reports overthe years. Five-year local Traveller accommodation programmes were developed in response tothe Housing (Traveller Accommodation) Act (1998), but many Local Authorities failed to adopt orimplement these programmes (Coates et al., 2008). The Act provides for consultation mechanisms withTravellers and Traveller organisations at national and local levels and provides local authorities withincreased powers of eviction from unauthorised Traveller encampments. It established the NTACC ona statutory basis. The main reason given for non-implementation of these plans is objections by localresidents to the development of Traveller sites in their area (Department of Justice, Equality and LawReform, 2005).As stated above, NTACC was established under the Housing (Traveller Accommodation) Act, 1998.The principal function of the Committee is to advise the Minister in relation to matters concerningaccommodation for Travellers.8