Technical Report - Donegal Traveller's Project

Health Survey FindingsThe NACD report found that, while there are some good models of service provision, Travellersexperience specific problems relating to access to services arising from a lack of awareness of theexistence and nature of drug services, lack of formal education, stigma and embarrassment and lack ofculturally appropriate services (Fountain, 2006).The High Level Group on Traveller Issues (a.k.a. The High Level Officials Group) 2003Previously the Task Force Report on the Travelling Community (Report of the Task Force on theTravelling Community, 1995) was one of the main forums for Traveller participation. The High LevelGroup on Traveller Issues is a cross-departmental group established under the aegis of the CabinetSub-Committee on Social Inclusion. The aim of the High Level Group on Traveller Issues is to find waysof securing better outcomes for Travellers and greater supervision across government departments forTraveller specific measures. The High Level Group on Traveller Issues is chaired by an Assistant Secretaryto the Department of Justice and comprises members of the Senior Official’s Group on Social Inclusionand other senior public servants with key responsibility for the delivery of Traveller specific services.The High Level Group on Traveller Issues has issued one report in 2006 (Department of Justice andLaw Reform, 2006), which includes a recommendation that a coordinated inter-agency approach tothe delivery of services and supports for Travellers might be a key way of enhancing service delivery.The report further identifies as a priority issue effective consultation between Travellers, Travellerorganisations and statutory bodies to support the development of an inter-agency approach and toimprove communication at national, regional and local level.National Traveller Monitoring and Advisory Committee 2007In 2007 the Committee to Monitor and Coordinate the Implementation of the Recommendationsof the Task Force on the Travelling Community (1995) was reconstituted as the National TravellerMonitoring and Advisory Committee.The function of the National Traveller Monitoring and Advisory Committee is complementary to theHigh Level Group on Traveller Issues and provides a forum where the views of a wide cross-sectionof stakeholders can be expressed. It represents an important mechanism for securing Travellerparticipation with Travellers and Traveller organisations. At the launch of this Committee, Minister forState at the department of Justice, Equality and Law reform with Special Responsibility for Equalityissues, Frank Fahey T.D. stated that it would have ‘a cross-cutting role’ and would address issues otherthan those being addressed in existing Departmental Committees.21