Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 1 Mar 1995

Vol. 449 No. 8

Written Answers. - Policy on Traveller's Health.

Michael Woods

Question:

14 Dr. Woods asked the Minister for Health his policy regarding the problems of ill-health associated with poverty among traveller women whose mortality rate, lower life expectancy and infant mortality rates have been shown to be almost three times that of the population of Ireland as a whole. [1974/95]

Minister for Health (Mr. Noonan,

Limerick East): The National Health Strategy Shaping a Healthier Future provided that my Department and the Task Force on the Travelling Community would undertake a joint study in 1994 on travellers health with particular emphasis on access to appropriate health services.

That study has now been completed and the task force is at present formulating its recommendations regarding a health policy for travellers taking account, inter alia, of the study. As indicated in the strategy, I will, following the report of the task force, publish a policy on travellers' health which will take account of both the recommendations of the task force and the joint study.

The strategy indicates a number of initiatives which will be undertaken. These are: the development, in consultation with traveller groups, of a health education programme aimed specifically at travellers. This programme would incorporate homemaking skills, advice on nutrition, family planning, dental care, safety and consanguinity; the development of models of traveller participation in health promotion and prevention to ensure the health education programmes are delivered to maximum effect, ensuring the health boards make special arrangements to encourage and permit travellers to avail of primary care services, in particular GP services, dental care, ante and post natal care, family planning, child immunisation and, where appropriate, hospital based services; simplifying services under the GMS including eligibility, immunisation and general health records to ensure better continuity of care from one health board area to another; liaising closely with other relevant statutory and voluntary agencies providing services to travellers to ensure better targeting of services.