Technical Report - Donegal Traveller's Project

Health Survey FindingsNorthern IrelandIn NI, the study group worked through a number of Traveller network groups. These included theHealthcare for Travellers Project in An Munia Tobar; the members organisations of the Regional TravellerNetwork NI; Traveller Toybox projects, and the Health Action Zones.Traveller Organisations in Northern IrelandA regional study coordinator was appointed by the Department of Health, Social Service and PublicSafety in Northern Ireland (DHSSPSNI) to support the development of a Traveller Health Network whichincorporated all the potential study coordinators from different areas in the North and acted as trainersfor the Traveller Peer Researchers.Existing Traveller Health Infrastructure in Northern IrelandIn 2005 the Race Equality Strategy (NI) was launched (Office of the First Minister and the Deputy FirstMinister, 2005). Within this Strategy and subsequent Action Plans (Office of the First Minister and theDeputy First Minister, 2006) there was specific reference to Travellers and their health. The DHSSPS havealso funded a community-based health project in Belfast since 1999.The development of Health Action Zones in some areas of Northern Ireland has created an interagencyfocus for action on Traveller health. In other areas there are close collaborative and cooperativeworking practices between local Traveller Organisations, community development organisations, andlocal health and social services.39