Waterford Traveller initiative among projects to receive €142,000 in funding

The Minister for Public Health, Wellbeing and the National Drugs Strategy, Colm Burke TD, announced recently that five local projects will share in a €710,000 Dormant Accounts fund to address the social determinants of Traveller health and an initiative in Waterford is among them.

The funding supports the implementation of the National Traveller Health Action Plan, and in particular, Goal 3, to address the social determinants of Traveller health through targeted and mainstream measures.

The five projects that will receive funding are aligned with the Slaintecare Healthy Communities programme, which is the mainstream Government initiative to address the social determinants of health in disadvantaged areas. Proposals were submitted by Local Development Officers in each local authority and the successful projects were chosen following an open and transparent selection process administered by the Genio Trust, in collaboration with local authorities, the Health Service Executive (HSE) and members of the Traveller community.

The funding in Waterford will be used to execute the delivery of an independent Place Standard Framework assessment of each of the five halting sites in the city, the establishment of a Traveller Voice Forum to ensure the views and concerns of the Traveller community are expressed, and the delivery of behaviour change programmes on topics including smoking, substance misuse and healthy eating.

In announcing the funding, Minister Burke said: "As Minister of State in the Department of Health, I am delighted that this new funding contributes to the implementation of our National Traveller Health Action Plan. It also complements the Slaintecare Healthy Communities programme which targets the most disadvantaged areas across the country."

“It is imperative that we address the social determinants of health for the Traveller community, if we are to reduce health inequalities and improve population health," he said.

"We know that Travellers experience economic and social disadvantages that contribute to their poor health status," he added.

He said the projects being funded "are targeted and culturally appropriate interventions", that address the specific factors that impact on Traveller health.

“The projects were developed in partnership between the local authorities and Traveller organisations," he said.

"I’m very encouraged by the quality and creativity of proposals received for this funding, and I look forward to hearing the impact that they will make to the health of Travellers," he added.

Meanwhile, National Progamme Manager at Genio, Tríona O’Connor said: “It is very evident from the quality of the applications, that meaningful consultations took place between the local authorities, Traveller organisations and the HSE in Slaintecare Healthy Community areas."

"We welcome the collaborative approach from local authorities, Travellers, the Department of Health and the HSE, and look forward to working together over the next two years," she said.

The five local authority areas will receive €142,000 each and in addition to Waterford City & County Council, they include the local authorities in Wicklow, Kildare, Westmeath and Cork.

There are currently 20 designated Slaintecare Healthy Communities across Ireland. These areas contain a higher proportion of Travellers compared to the rest of the country, accounting for 1.4 per cent of the Healthy Communities population, compared to the national average of 0.6 per cent.