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Traveller Community

Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 18 December 2013

Wednesday, 18 December 2013

Questions (18)

Mick Wallace

Question:

18. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for Health his plans to address the fact that it is consistently shown that Travellers have a shorter life span and substantially poorer health than their settled peers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54115/13]

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Written answers

Healthy Ireland, A Framework for Improved Health and Wellbeing 2013-2025 is the national framework for action to improve the health and wellbeing of the country over the coming generation. Healthy Ireland includes a high-level goal to reduce the health inequalities experienced by many people in Ireland, including Travellers.

The All Ireland Traveller Health Study (AITHS) found that Travellers experienced higher levels of morbidity and mortality and also reported that access to health services is good, with Travellers stating that their access is at least as good as that of the rest of the population, with almost 97% of all Travellers registered with a GP. The Study identified a number of priority areas for action to improve the health status of Travellers including mental health and suicide; men’s health; addiction/alcohol; diabetes and cardiovascular health. The annual HSE National Service Plan and associated Operational Plans contain a number of specific actions in respect of progressing identified health priorities many of which are delivered in partnership and collaboration with Travellers.

The over-arching principles of Healthy Ireland provide the required and appropriate platform through which the identified issues as they relate to Traveller health will be met. The need for a robust research and data framework to systematically build data systems around Traveller health will be met through the Outcomes Framework and the Research and Data Plan currently in development and which will provide for the systematic monitoring and evaluation of data and indicators relating to health status and the social and environmental determinants of health within robust governance arrangements. The identification, collection and evaluation of key data and indicators relating to health status and the social and environmental determinants of health will be central to the monitoring of Healthy Ireland .

The goal in Healthy Ireland to reduce health inequalities requires not only interventions to target particular health risks but also a focus on addressing these wider social determinants of health. The Framework provides for new arrangements to ensure effective co-operation between the health sector and other areas of Government and public services that are concerned with these broad determinants of health, including those of importance and relevance to all of those persons who experience health inequalities, including Travellers. The new structures established under Healthy Ireland to enable and support its implementation will provide a focus on addressing the health needs of all groups experiencing health inequalities, including Travellers, and provides an opportunity to take a new approach to tackling issues such as health inequalities and the social determinants of health more effectively.

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