Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 14 July 2020
1284. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Minister for Health the dates on which the Traveller health advisory committee met between 2010 and 2020 inclusive in tabular form; the date on which it will next meet; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15925/20]
View answerThe Traveller Health Advisory Committee ceased in 2012, following a formal review which found that:
- the committee did not function well, with limited efficiency and effectiveness and with differing views its role and remit;
- there were concerns around its membership and composition;
- there were overlaps between the role and composition of the committee and the Traveller Health Advisory Forum (structure chaired by the HSE); and
- there were a number of other contentious issues, including the lack of a response to the findings of the All-Ireland Traveller Health Study.
The Department of Health is committed to addressing the serious health inequalities facing the Traveller community, informed by the All Ireland Traveller Health Survey which was published in 2010.
The Department has ongoing engagement with the Traveller community on ways to improve Traveller health. In 2018, the Department convened a roundtable with Traveller organisations to discuss Traveller health concerns. This was attended by officials from various policy units in the Department.
The Department is currently working with the HSE to develop a national Traveller health action plan. This is one of 35 actions in the National Traveller and Roma Inclusion Strategy to improve the health status of Travellers and Roma, covering the areas of improved access to health services, reductions in health inequalities, culturally appropriate delivery of health services and reductions in suicide and mental health.
The strategy is overseen by a steering committee including government departments and agencies, and Traveller representative organisations.
I am determined to publish and implement the national Traveller health action plan, which is a commitment in the Programme for Government. Together with the Minister for Health, I look forward to receiving the health action plan from the HSE and to support the implementation of the plan. I will consider the arrangements for engaging with the HSE and with Traveller organisations to implement the plan.
