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Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 5 March 2019

Tuesday, 5 March 2019

Questions (341, 342, 344, 345)

Gerry Adams

Question:

341. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 437 of 29 January 2019, the status of the work undertaken in recommendation 73 of the National Traveller and Roma Inclusion Strategy; if this action incorporates specific measures to address Traveller suicide; and if he will report on the issue [10765/19]

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Gerry Adams

Question:

342. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 437 of 29 January 2019, when a detailed action plan based on the findings of the All Ireland Traveller Health Study will be finalised; when it will be published; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10766/19]

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Gerry Adams

Question:

344. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Minister for Health if a planning advisory body for Traveller health to deliver the national Traveller health action plan will be established; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10768/19]

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Gerry Adams

Question:

345. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Minister for Health the reason the national Traveller health advisory committee has not been convened since 2012. [10769/19]

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Written answers

I propose to take Questions Nos. 341, 342, 344 and 345 together.

Health and well-being are not evenly distributed across society. There are socially excluded groups who experience extreme health inequalities. Such groups include Travellers, homeless people, refugees and asylum seekers and people with addiction issues. Inequalities in health are reflected in the mortality and morbidity rates of the population. Rates of chronic diseases are another indicator of health inequalities. A social gradient is also apparent in mental health.

The Department has undertaken significant measures across the health service to address the health needs of Travellers, including funding for the All Ireland Traveller Health Study. There is ongoing and extensive engagement with Traveller organisations on their health needs.

The Department and the HSE participate in various official structures which monitor the provision of healthcare services for Travellers. These include the National Traveller and Roma Inclusion Strategy Steering Committee and the Traveller Health Advisory Forum. The Department's Healthy Ireland Network also has Traveller representatives.

The National Traveller and Roma Inclusion Strategy (NTRIS) sets out over 30 actions to address the health needs of Travellers and Roma. The Department and the HSE report regularly on the implementation of these actions to the NTRIS steering group, chaired by Minister David Stanton. One of the NTRIS actions is for the HSE to develop and implement a detailed action plan to continue to address the specific health needs of Travellers, using a social determinants approach.

I am fully committed to improving the health outcomes for Travellers and I look forward to receiving from the HSE its Traveller health action plan in due course.

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