South Tipperary County Development Board

South Tipperary County Strategy for Economic, social and Cultural Development

Fourteenth Meering Report November 4, 2002

Twelfth Meeting Report June 17, 2002

Eleventh Meeting Report April 8, 2002

South Tipperary County Strategy for Economic, Social and Cultural Development (Consultative (zip file)

Draft) Stakeholder's Review (November 14 2001-January 17 2002) (zip file)

Ninth Meeting Report

Eighth Meeting Report

Seventh Meeting Report

Summary of Progress To Date Re The Emerging County Strategy in South Tipperary May 2001 (Progress Reports from the Economic, Social Inclusion and Cultural Working Groups

Sixth Meeting Report

Fifth Meeting Report

Rural Development Meeting

Community Development Meeting

Health Segment Meeting

Traveller Focus Group Meeting

Cultural Working Group Meeting

Report of the Economic Working Group Meeting

Meeting Report of Traveller Focus Group held on 31st January, 2001

At the meeting held in the Cashel UDC offices, forty seven people attended, these included people from the travelling community and representatives from support groups, the Health Board, Gardai, the County Council, the Department of Education and Science Schools, County Development Board staff, St Vincent de Paul, Clonmel Partnership, and Voluntary and Community groups. After brief introductions the group broke in three and carried out a Strenghts, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats analysis of the situation in South Tipperary. To assist in this process five headings were given to structure the work. The headings were Accommodation, Health, Education, Unemployment and the Traveller Economy, and Discrimination.

 

1/ Accommodation

Based on a recent county council examination of the accommodation situation the following figures emerged. These were made available to the participants in an information pack. The Total Estimated Number of Traveller Families in South Tipperary is 95. In summation the accommodation situation for these families is as follows.

Families living in houses				 60

Families with full or emergency services			18

Families with no services					17

                  

Strengths

1. Recent legislation ensures that the council has an Statutory obligation to accommodate Traveller families. (1).
2. Group Housing Schemes (2)(3)
3. Accommodation Committee (2)(3)
4. Caravan Loans (2)
5. Increased number of halting sites (3)
6. Provision of temporary services to roadside sites (3)
7. Purchase of private houses (3)

Weaknesses

1. Present appalling conditions for some families, with lack of basic facilities (1)(2)(3).
2. Lack of genuine consultation, with wishes and needs of families not being considered. This applies to new developments and improvements/alterations to present sites. Travellers are given little or no choice in the provision of accommodation. All options need to be included in this process, egs. Group housing, halting sites or houses in the countryside. (1)(2)(3)
3. A shift in thinking needs to occur, people need to accept travellers needs are legitimate (1)
4. Transient sites should be available to accommodate the nomadic aspect of traveller culture (1)
5. The present housing process under the auspices of the Local Traveller Housing Committee needs to be speeded up. (1)(2)(3)
6. Public non acceptance of sites (3).

Opportunities

1. Need for further clarity re the roles of the members of the Local Traveller Housing Committee, particularly the roles of the members and officials in the decision making process (1)(3).
2. More use should be made of the traveller consultative committee (1)(2)(3)
3. There are more opportunities for the community to voice their concerns and issues. (2)
4. More consultation going on between the traveller and settled community.(2)
5. There is a need for a liaison/middle man to facilitate consultation between the traveller and settled community. (2)
6. Council need to be more proactive in tackling prejudice against the traveller community (3)
7. There is a need for the more mutual recognition of the views of the traveller and settled communities.(3)
8. Traveller support groups can help improve the situation (3)

Threats

1. Failure to accept that dogs and horses are part of the traveller culture. Accommodation solutions need to allow for this. (1)(2)
2. Bigotry and racism of the settled community (2)(3)
3. No real choices, difficulty in getting sites. Families housed (on a temporary basis) when they want to be on recognized serviced halting sites. (2)(3)
4. Lack of information amongst settled community (2)
5. Overcrowding on official sites (2)(3)
6. Halting sites being used to accommodate transient community.(3)

 

2/ Health

Strengths

1. Dedicated public health nurse (1)(2)(3).
2. Improved access to local clinics and nurse in rural areas (2)
3. Primary Health Care Course in Clonmel.(2)(3)
4. Hospital services satisfactory(2)
5. Availability of vaccinations from GPs.(3)
6. Improvement in travellers health, better follow up with missed appointments etc.(3)

Weaknesses

1. Lack of basic human facilities. Accommodation conditions are detrimental to health, lack of clean water, sanitation, refuse collection, rodents. (1)(2)(3).
2. In dealing with the health services, reading and writing skills can prove to be a barrier.(1)(3)
3. Difficulty with GP services, appointments, accessibility(1)(2)
4. Need for more information re health issues, eg. recent problems re vaccines (2)
5. General poor state of health within the community (liver conditions etc.)(3).
6. Medical card system. No assigned GPs, shared GP practices can mean that you get a different doctor on each visit and this affects continuity and consistency in delivery of care(3).

Opportunities

1. Primary Health Care Project (2)
2. SEHB are showing commitment to community development approach to traveller communities issues.(2)
3. To improve living conditions (3)
4. More meetings with Doctors and nurses could be useful.(3)
5. Public health care course could be extended to the rest of the county. (3).

Threats

1. Lack of basic facilities for many families (2).
2. Very few Traveller men avail of health services, they need to be involved with outside agencies but they need support for same. (2)(3).
3. Literacy levels are affecting access to health services (2)(3)

 

3/ Education

Strengths

1. Homework clubs, where they exist, are very supportive. (1)
2. Shift in thinking, younger generation more open to attend the education system and are staying on in the system longer. (2)(3)
3. Increased opportunities and supports for education, classroom assistants (Cashel), additional supports, pre-schools, visiting teacher for travellers etc.(2)(3)
4. Special education teachers provide a very good service.(2)
5. Increased access to adult education opportunities(2)(3)
6. Travellers culture is on the curriculum.(3)
7. Teacher assigned to traveller community. Very positive development (1)(2)(3)

Weaknesses

1. Traveller children treated differently, they do not get homework, follow the same curriculum(1)
2. Traveller children can be kept back and not allowed to progress into the following year. This should only happen after prior consultation with the family and the dedicated traveller teacher.(1)
3. Traveller children never have their culture mentioned or acknowledged in school. Curriculum is geared to meet the needs of the settled community(1)(2)(3)
4. Psychological services are stretched at the moment.(1)
5. Increased resources needed for in and after school support, homework clubs etc.(2)(3)
6. Lack of Facilities in which to do homework.(2)
7. Previous lack of participation in the education system(2).
8. Poor attendance.(3)

Opportunities

1. Need for alternative delivery of education. Other agencies need to get involved.(1).
2. New and good opportunities for parents to avail of training eg. adult literacy etc.(2)(3)
3. Summer Projects for children.(3)
4. Teacher training re travellers culture(3).
5. Education needs to be made available to traveller men(3).
6. Transport for children, more needed and timing not ideal(3).
7. Play-schools, further input from travellers re needs(3)
8. More local groups providing support to the traveller community needed (3)
9. Access to childcare training would be welcomed.(3).

Threats

1. Bullying in schools (2)
2. Shortage of pre school / playschool places, children not admitted to schools until 4 yrs old.(3)
3. Children moving into secondary school without adequate levels of literacy.(3)

 

Travellers Economy and Employment

Strengths

1. Training support from FAS and other agencies(2)
2. Horses as an economy and dogs Fairs etc(2).
3. Trades that are specific to travellers(2)
4. More opportunities (younger people through education)(3)
5. Increased access to training for young men.(3)

Weaknesses

1. Where you live should not affect your ability to get a job (1)
2. No support or recognition for traveller economy
3. Men are not particularly interested in courses on offer, they might avail of literacy classes, care of horses, carpentry etc. There is a need for consultation and support re same.(1)
4. Change in society travellers losing traditional skills eg tinsmithing(2)
5. Introduction of new laws restricting trading(2)
6. Markets are changing(2)
7. Travellers have to prove themselves, lack of trust(3).
8. Travellers have to hide their identity(3).

Opportunities

1. Develop existing skills. Need for further training and supports to ensure access to employment(2)(3)
2. Employers need to be informed and educated.(3)
3. Need for improved education access for all the community Men Women and Children(3)
4. Build up links and trusts with Chambers of Commerce UDCs etc.(3).

Threats

1. Reduction in and decline of the horse fairs(2)
2. Attitude of settled community prohibits access to jobs, Discrimination hidden and blatant(3).

 

Culture and Discrimination

Strengths

1. New legislation(1)(2)(3)
2. Family/Community support in the travelling community(2)
3. It is good to be a traveller(2)
4. Travelling maintaining Links(2)
5. Support Groups, providing a voice and getting people involved. (2)(3)

Weaknesses

1. Social nights out are very difficult to arrange, even for women. Men and couples are not admitted to most pubs.(1)(2)
2. Access to childcare, Employment, accommodation and education(1)(2)(3)
3. Security men in shops tend to follow travellers(1)
4. Positive discrimination for settled community(2)
5. Lack of honesty around discrimination

Opportunities

1. Need for information and implementation re the new equality and discrimination legislation(1)(2)
2. Obligation on settled community to actively fight discrimination(1)
3. Travellers traditions and culture is not as strong as older generations, but still exists(2)
4. Dedicated Social worker for travellers needed.

 

Threats

1. Culture and traditions will die off, housing, trading restrictions, horses, etc.

Summary

While improvements were acknowledged serious challenges are still to be faced to ensure that the Travelling Community are accepted and respected within the county. Examining the issues of concern under the five headings of Accommodation, Health, Education, Employment and the Traveller Economy and Discrimination the following was highlighted.

In relation to accommodation 17 families of the estimated 95 families are living with a lack of basic human facilities. There was consensus in acknowledging and welcoming the work and potential of the local traveller accommodation committee. However there is a concern with the continued lack of real consultation re the communities accommodation and cultural needs. There is also real concern with the rate of progress being made in addressing the accommodation needs. Opposition of the settled community to on-going provision of traveller accommodation needs to be over come. There is a need for facilitation and negotiation resources and opportunities to help the traveller and settled communities to reach a compromise. A strengthening and renewed focus is needed to ensure that the accommodation committee achieves its targets as set out in their five year plan (Feb 2000).

In the area of health again there was definite consensus re the positive impact of the services of the Travellers Public Health Nurse and the primary health coarse presently underway in Clonmel. The lack of basic human facilities was agreed by all to be the greatest obstacle to improved health. Clean water, sanitation and refuse services are basic requirements for the communities quest for better health. Access to health care is hindered by literacy difficulties. Traveller men need support and encouragement to improve their health status. The community development approach adopted by the Health Board is welcomed. There is room for some further refinement of GP services and an extension of the primary health coarse to the rest of the county would be a very positive and welcomed development.

The work of the Department of Education and Science Traveller education teacher, homework clubs, pre-school and play school facilities, classroom assistants and other positive developments have contributed to an improving experience and acceptance of Education by some traveller families. Many families, however, still feel alienated by the education system and bullying and inadequate or non-existent acknowledgement of the traveller culture continues to be an issue. Pre school and playschool opportunities are limited and further resources to support traveller children in education are needed. Education opportunities for adults have increased. There is need for further provision and particular emphasis needs to be placed on accommodating traveller men.

Employment opportunities have increased. FAS and other agencies have supported training for employment, however traditional areas of activity have declined. The demise of fairs and local markets and laws governing trading have all impacted on the traditional traveller economy. Employers need to be encouraged to accept traveller employees. Links and trust need to be nurtured between the business and travelling community. Hidden and blatant discrimination cannot be tolerated in the workplace. Further training initiatives need to be put in place.

Discrimination despite the new legislation continues to be a reality for the community. Access to childcare, employment, education, social amenities etc. can be restricted. An increased awareness, by the settled community, of traveller culture needs to be further developed. A social worker dedicated to the community could greatly assist in addressing the challenges and difficulties in the area of discrimination. The strength and support within the travelling community needs to be harnessed and traditions and cultural traits need to be preserved. The settled community must actively fight discrimination.

Exclusion and marginalisation are still very much part of the daily experience of the travelling community in South Tipperary. Members of the community with the support of Traveller support groups are developing a stronger voice, more people are getting involved. Improvements are welcomed by the 95 traveller families in South Tipperary, but more work needs to be done. The county needs to work towards a day when discrimination and alienation are consigned to the past.