I propose to take Questions Nos. 158 and 163 together.
The Department of Health, via the HSE, provides in excess of €10m, to support a range of targeted initiatives, programmes and supports to improve the health status of Travellers. These include:
- primary healthcare projects, counselling services, family support programmes and men's health projects;
- Traveller Health units and related staff;
- mental health promotion and suicide prevention services provided in a culturally sensitive manner, to reduce the stigma associated with mental health;
- Mental Health Service Coordinator for Travellers posts responsible for driving, managing and supporting the implementation of agreed improvement programmes and projects for Travellers.
Furthermore, the HSE employs a number of Public Health Nurses and related staff towards addressing priority health needs of members of the Traveller community.
The Department will allocate €17 billion to the HSE for the delivery of health services in 2020. The details of these services will be set out in the HSE National Service Plan for 2020. The plan will include specific measures to improve Traveller health, including a Traveller health action plan.
As the Deputy’s question refers to a service matter it has been referred to the HSE for attention and direct reply to the Deputy.
