Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 14 November 2023
511. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Health to outline in detail what new resources have been allocated to Traveller health, including resources to support implementation of the National Traveller Health Action Plan, in Budget 2024; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49493/23]
View answerTravellers have the right to the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health as is the norm in Irish society. Regrettably, this is not the case as the Traveller community continue to experience severe health inequalities, reflected in a shorter life and a poorer quality of health. To achieve health equity, we have to bring Traveller health to the same standard as for the settled population.
A factsheet outlining the Budget 2024 allocation for the National Drugs Strategy and Inclusion Health, which can be found here - https://assets.gov.ie/273589/d7b2c043-f672-4098-b55b-18f5fc0f6f0d.pdf All of the new measures will benefit Travellers, especially given the higher incidence of drug use and homelessness among this vulnerable group.
The national Traveller health action plan sets out to improve the health experiences and outcomes for Travellers. The plan involves the Department, the HSE and healthcare providers, working together with Traveller healthcare projects and organisations. This partnership approach is a cornerstone of the development of the action plan and its implementation.
The action plan recognises that the root cause of health inequalities for Travellers lies in the social determinants of health, most of which are outside the health system. These are the conditions that Travellers live, work and raise their families. The social determinants are more important that healthcare or lifestyle choices in influencing health status. A joined-up approach across government and local authorities is required to address the social determinants of Traveller health.
In 2023, the Department provided €1.3m to the HSE to support the implementation of the Traveller health action plan. This is in addition to the €10m that is already ring-fenced for specific healthcare services for Travellers. The HSE has allocated this additional funding to expand primary healthcare Traveller projects (PHCTP) in 2023 and 2024. A further €300,000 is being allocated to enhance mental health services for Travellers, again in 2023 and 2024.
In addition, Budget 2024 allocated additional non-core funding to expand the Traveller Counselling Service, in line with action 27 in the THAP and action 2.3.3 in Connecting for Life.
Outside of the Budget, the Dept has secured significant additional resources for Traveller health. Recently, the Dept received approval from the Dept of Rural and Community Development to proceed with an initiative to address the social determinants of Traveller health in conjunction with the Slaintecare healthy communities programme. Total funding of €710,000 from Dormant Accounts will be provided for this initiative in 2024 & 2025.
The Dept has allocated €500,000 for projects working with Traveller women at risk of homelessness from the Women’s Health Fund. The Dept looks forward to working with the three selected projects to improve the health of Traveller women at risk of homelessness.
I, along with my colleagues Minister Donnelly and Minister Butler, are fully committed to providing the leadership and resources to improve Traveller health, including the implementation of the action plan.
