Technical Report - Donegal Traveller's Project

All Ireland Traveller Health StudyOther Important Policy Developments Pertaining to TravellersThe National Action Plan on Social Inclusion (NAP inclusion) 2007-2016A key EU policy development is the National Action Plan against Poverty and Social Exclusion, whichprovides a common social inclusion framework within which member states are required to developand report on strategies and associated targets aimed at reducing social and health inequalities, andthe poverty and exclusion resulting from this.The strategic approach of this document towards combating poverty and associated social exclusionembodies a recognition of the complex, multifaceted nature of poverty and emphasises the need for acoordinated cross-sectoral response to this.The NAP inclusion is part of an EU-wide process designed to assist Member States in achieving the EUgoal of making a decisive impact on poverty by 2010 and beyond. Of particular use is the fact that itprovides consistent and robust indicators for the measurement of poverty.The Report on consultation for the National Action Plan against Poverty and Social Exclusion 2006-2008 clearly identified minority ethnic groups and Travellers among the most vulnerable groups andproposes various concrete steps to address their situation. Issues identified include housing, education,languages support, employment, improved data collection and policy ‘poverty proofing’.The 2007-2016 plan states that access to quality health services is a prerequisite for participation inthe social and economic life of society and cites the importance of the National Intercultural HealthStrategy (Health Service Executive, 2008) in addressing the unique health and support needs ofminority groups, such as Travellers, refugees and migrants.The Intercultural Health Strategy, 2007-2012The primary objective of the strategy is to provide a framework through which service users andproviders are supported in addressing the unique care and support needs of people from diversecultural and ethnic backgrounds. Within a health landscape, this implies that the health serviceacknowledges the distinct health and support needs of minority ethnic groups and, through a range ofmechanisms, translates this into responsive, flexible ways of facilitating equal and optimal access to andutilisation of health services, with positive health outcomes. An integrated approach will be developedfor conducting health impact assessments. Aspects of equality and diversity will be developed andconducted in the longer term within a health impact assessment framework. This will be effectedwithin the context of work currently under way within the Population Health Directorate concerningthe development of a strategic framework for health impact assessments.22