Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 27 July 2021
1715. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Health when he plans to introduce a national Traveller mental health strategy as promised in the Programme for Government; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35070/21]
View answerGovernment policy strategy for improving the lives of Traveller and Roma communities is outlined in the National Traveller and Roma Inclusion Strategy (NTRIS). The strategy is a cross-departmental initiative and contains a set of specific actions aimed at improving the situation for Traveller and Roma communities in Ireland. The Strategy includes 10 actions relating to mental health and suicide among Travellers. There is also an action under NTRIS to implement a detailed action plan to address the specific health needs of Travellers, using a social determinants approach.
In addition, the national mental health policy, Sharing the Vision, makes a series of recommendations that will improve mental health outcomes for the whole community, including the Traveller and Roma community. Sharing the Vision recognises the particular issues faced by different priority groups with respect to mental health and the policy will address these by implementing recommendations that are designed to individualise services to the needs of the user by taking account of their unique socio-economic and cultural background.
It is envisaged that Traveller and Roma representation will engage in a significant way with Sharing the Vision’s National Implementation and Monitoring Committee to ensure that the implementation of Sharing the Vision will maximise beneficial outcomes for Travellers and Roma. It is also envisaged that the mental health actions in NTRIS will be incorporated in the Traveller health action plan and will be aligned with the overall approach in Sharing the Vision. This will allow for an integrated and coordinated response to the specific health needs of Travellers, as outlined in NTRIS.
