7 Feb 2014, 14:59
A delegation from the Joint Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality will visit two Traveller projects in Dublin on Thursday, 13th February 2014 to view a number of initiatives in the areas of education, training, health and active citizenship.
The schedule for the visit is:
11am: Clondalkin Travellers Development Group
Unit 1 Neilstown Enterprise Centre
Clondalkin
Dublin 22
12.30am: Blanchardstown Traveller Support Group
Parslickstown House
Ladyswell
Mulhuddart
Blanchardstown
Dublin 15
Clondalkin Travellers Development Group (CTDG) was established in 1989 to address the needs of Travellers in the Clondalkin area. Blanchardstown Traveller Development Group (BTDG) is a local community development organisation which is a joint initiative between members of the Traveller and settled communities. BTDG was founded in 1992 and was set up as a limited company with charitable status in 1998.
Committee Chairman David Stanton, TD, said: “The Committee will have an opportunity to visit two Traveller projects and to see at first hand the work being done through a number of outreach, education and training programmes to address issues such as social exclusion and unemployment in the Traveller Community. CTDG’s outreach programmes target every member of the Traveller community through its Primary Health Care, Youth Work and early drugs intervention programme, accommodation and advocacy work as well as an Active Citizenship programme which has resulted in the creation of a Bike Workshop training scheme entitled Crossbar Bicyles. The aim of Blanchardstown Traveller Support Group’s is to create opportunities for Travellers to engage in education and training.”
Committee member and rapporteur for the Committee’s report on Traveller ethnicity Pádraig Mac Lochlainn said: “This is a wonderful opportunity for Committee members to witness on the ground initiatives to improve the lives of Travellers and to meet people availing of a number of projects which are providing them with opportunities to improve their education, training and skills.”
Media Enquiries to:
Ciaran Brennan,
Houses of the Oireachtas,
Communications Unit,
Leinster House,
Dublin 2
P: +3531 618 3903
M: 086-0496518
F: +3531 618 4551
Committee Membership
Deputies: Niall Collins (FF); Marcella Corcoran Kennedy (FG); Alan Farrell (FG); Anne Ferris (LAB) [Vice-Chairman]; Seán Kenny (LAB); Pádraig Mac Lochlainn (SF); Finian McGrath (IND); John Paul Phelan (FG); David Stanton (FG) [Chairman]
Senators: Ivana Bacik (LAB); Martin Conway (FG); Rónán Mullen (IND); Denis O’Donovan (FF); Katherine Zappone (IND); Tony Mulcahy (FG).