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ITM Annual Report 2000

Contents:  

1. Forword: Maureen Ward, Chairperson, Irish Traveller Movement
2. Highlights of 2000 
3. Priorities for 2001 
4. Activities Report
• Building Traveller Participation 
• Traveller Accommodation 
• Travellers and Equality 
• Traveller Education  
• Travellers and Health 
• Traveller Youth Work 
• Travellers and Horses 
• Information Work 
• Partnership with other Traveller Organisations 
• Community and Voluntary Sector Partnership  
5. Resources and Staffing
6. Irish Traveller Movement

Appendix 1:         Full Members

Appendix 2:         Associate Members

Appendix 3:         Who does what in the Irish Traveller Movement

Appendix 4:         Financial Report 2000

Irish Traveller Movement, 4-5 Eustace Street, Dublin 2. 
Tel: 01 6796577   Fax: 01 6796578
e-mail: itmtrav at indigo.ie 
Web: www.itmtrav.com

1. FORWORD

This year was the 10th Anniversary of the Irish Traveller Movement. We can look back at the good work undertaken in the last 10 years by ITM, by other Traveller organisations and by many of the officials with responsibilities for addressing the difficulties faced by Travellers. For many of us Travellers it is hard to see the progress that has been made and some of us will ask will it make a difference to us. I say it will and lets make use of what we have achieved. Now that the structures and laws are in place, that we in ITM and other Traveller organisations have campaigned so long for, lets make good use of them.

This annual report outlines some of the progress made and identifies the new structures at national and local level that have been set up. I believe that it is important that Travellers take ownership of ITM and take a more active role in the working groups. I would like to thank all those individuals who have been very active on the working groups. I would also like to take this opportunity to say welcome to the new members in the working groups. I would like to give a big thank you to the members of the Central Group who have played the important role of managing the work of ITM.  

As chairperson I would like to acknowledge the commitment and dedication of the staff over the years and I would also like to welcome the new members of staff. I look forward to the contribution that we can make as part of the Irish Traveller Movement and I believe that together we can build a better future.  

Maureen Ward
Chairperson
Irish Traveller Movement 

2. HIGHLIGHTS OF 2000

ITM 10th Anniversary Celebrations

The Year 2000 saw the celebration of the 10th anniversary of the Irish Traveller Movement.  The occasion was marked by a visit of past and present members of the central group to Áras an Uachtarain.  While there the group was greeted by President Mary McAleese and she was the first to view the flash documentary on our new website which was produced to mark the special occasion.  The 10th anniversary celebrations concluded with a concert ‘Moving Forward’ which was held in the HQ premises in Middle Abbey Street, Dublin.  Musicians from the settled and the Traveller community performed at the concert.  The concert was enjoyed by over 300 of our members and supporters.

Equal Status Legislation  

The long promised and hotly contested Equal Status legislation was finally delivered in the year 2000.  On the day the bill finally passed all stages, members of the Irish Traveller Movement invited the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform, John O Donoghue, along with politicians from all the political parties to join them outside the Dáil to share in a slice of the Equality cake.  The commencement date for the legislation was not until October, so at the time of writing this report, no cases have being taking under the new legislation.  However, we do know that Travellers have brought incidents to the attention of the Equality Authority and to the Directorate of Equality Investigations and we are awaiting the outcomes.  Travellers have waited a long time for anti-discrimination legislation and now that it is here it is important that they test the effectiveness of the legislation.

Traveller Accommodation Programmes 

In March/April of 2000 every local authority adopted Local Traveller Accommodation Programmes.  The adoption of such programmes was required under the Housing (Traveller Accommodation) Act 1998.  The legislation also required that the programmes adopted include provisions for a range of accommodation options including, standard housing, group housing, permanent sites and transient sites.  The National Traveller Accommodation Consultative Committee and the Traveller Accommodation Unit in the Department of Environment and Local Government are currently assessing the adequacy of the plans.  The production of the programmes is the final stage in creating the conditions to address the backlog in Traveller accommodation provision.  No further excuses can be justified.  

Citizen Traveller Campaign  

The year 2000 was the first full year of the Citizen Traveller Campaign.  Citizen Traveller is a public information and awareness programme.  The Irish Traveller Movement, the National Traveller Women’s Forum, Pavee Point and the Parish of the Travelling People jointly manage the campaign.  Citizen Traveller has played a part in bringing to the attention of the wider public the realities faced by Travellers in Irish society.  The campaign contributes to developing a greater understanding between Travellers and members of the settled community.  The campaign also plays a part in strengthening Travellers confidence in their own culture and identity.   The campaign seeks to gain support from the wider community for the implementation at national and local level of the long standing recommendations to address the problems faced by Travellers in their every day lives.        

3. PRIORITIES FOR 2001

Ensuring that the legislation delivers for Travellers 

Traveller organisations cannot guarantee that the Housing (Traveller Accommodation) Act delivers adequate good quality accommodation for Travellers.  Nor can Traveller organisations guarantee that the Employment Equality Act and Equal Status Act protects Travellers from discrimination.  However, Traveller organisations including the Irish Traveller Movement must ensure that Travellers are aware of the provisions and the procedures under these pieces of legislation and that Travellers test the legislation to its fullest.

In this regard the Irish Traveller Movement must continue its support for the representatives of Traveller interests on the Local Traveller Accommodation Consultative Committee.  The year 2001 must see significant progress in addressing the backlog in Traveller accommodation.  Any failure to make significant progress must lead to the review of the legislation and the introduction of new measures that would ensure real progress is made.  The Irish Traveller Movement must ensure that there is a strong collective Traveller voice giving clear messages about the legislation and its implementation during this crucial year.

The key challenge with regards to the equality legislation is to develop the advocacy capacity of local Traveller organisations to ensure that they are in a position to assist Travellers who seek to use the legislation.  Contributing to the more developmental aspects of the legislation including the development of codes of practice and equality action plans is also an important challenge for the Irish Traveller Movement.  The year 2001 is a time to test the legislation so that we are in a strong position to contribute to the review of the legislation that will take place in 2002.

Travellers and Education 

In a recent survey of over 500 Travellers as part of the Citizen Traveller campaign over 90% of the Travellers interviewed said that they wish their children continued longer in secondary schools.  However, schooling is still a mixed experience for Travellers and schools still have a way to go to be inter-cultural in their approach.  Traveller organisations have an important role to play in ensuring that the voice of Travellers is heard in developing this intercultural role.  It is important that the Irish Traveller Movement and Traveller organisations are resourced to play this role.   Accessing these resources needs to be a priority for the coming year.  

In addition to this, it is important that the Irish Traveller Movement revitalises its working group on Traveller Education.  This group has a role to play in ensuring that Traveller parents and Traveller students are involved in debates and in making proposals with regards to Traveller education.  The group also has a role to clearly articulate the work presently undertaken by Traveller organisations in support of Traveller education and to develop models of good practice from this experience.

Traveller Youth  

Travellers remain a predominantly young population.  It is important that the Irish Traveller Movement ensures that young Travellers are active in all of the working groups of the Irish Traveller Movement.  The Youth Work Group of the Irish Traveller Movement must ensure that young Travellers have the opportunity to come together to meet, to share ideas, and to develop their capacity to engage with policies and structures which effect their life chances.      

Managing the Work Loads of Traveller Organisations 

The success of Traveller organisations in the 1990’s in putting Travellers on the agenda at a national and local level has increased the workload of Traveller organisations.  The role accorded to community and voluntary organisations in a ‘partnership’ context has also contributed significantly to these workloads.  Traveller organisations as well as engaging in Traveller consultative forums need also to play roles in platforms of community organisations, in local development arenas, in local government reforms and in national social partnership arenas.

In addition new Traveller organisations and initiatives with Travellers are emerging in different parts of the country.  It is important that these new developments build on the lessons learned by Traveller organisations over the recent years.  It is also important that these new organisations and initiatives are linked into the wider Traveller Movement.  This creates new opportunities and challenges for the Irish Traveller Movement as well as the National Traveller Women’s Forum and Pavee Point.  It also entails an additional level of work for Traveller organisations both locally and nationally.

Managing these workloads in a manner that doesn’t lead to burn out for volunteers and workers in Traveller projects is important for the long-term sustainability of the struggle to achieve human rights for Travellers.  Maintaining a collective approach to our work while each responding to our own areas of responsibilities is equally important if we are to achieve human rights for Travellers.  This will involve developing clarity with regards to the roles of Traveller organisations and Traveller initiatives at the local and the national level.  It will also involve a clear strategy with regards to the support for Traveller organisations at the local level.  It involves a greater clarity in relation to the development of the structures for regional work and the role of Traveller regional networks.  Lastly it involves local Traveller organisations making a commitment to the work of Traveller organisations at the regional and national level.  The member organisations of the Irish Traveller Movement must respond to these realities in the coming year.

Engaging in this level of work has financial and resource implications.  While acknowledging a significant increase in the levels of funding being made available to Traveller organisations at local and national level it is also important to note that this funding is not adequate to all the tasks involved and that there are gaps in the geographical areas that are covered by the funding presently available.  There is still a need to convince those in charge of resources that Traveller community infrastructure is an essential part in the overall response needed to address the present and past realities of discrimination experienced by Travellers.    

Responding to an Increasingly Multi Cultural Ireland 

The presence of new ethnic communities in Ireland and the increasing acknowledgement of the reality of multi-cultural Ireland present real opportunities for developing the inter-cultural and anti-racist society which Traveller organisations have been to the forefront in articulating the need for.  However this new reality requires that Traveller organisations reshape some of their thinking with regards to the policies, practices and institutions that are needed to make an inter-cultural and anti-racist Ireland.  At the national level the participation of the Irish Traveller Movement in the Platform Against Racism (PAR), on the National Consultative Committee on Racism and Interculturalism (NCCRI) and on the Equality Authority will provide important forums in which to develop this thinking.            

Responding to a ‘Wealthy’ Ireland. 

The ‘partnership’ approach involving community organisations at local and national level was applied in the 1980’s and 1990’s to address long standing problems including, unemployment, urban decay, rural depopulation, and social exclusion.  The partnership approach was also applied to address the problems faced by Travellers.  While the ‘partnership’ approach has made a contribution to addressing some of these problems it has not delivered an Ireland where wealth is more equally distributed and where good quality public services are accessible to all.  This failure presents a challenge to the community sector regarding their participation in the ‘partnership’ arrangements, particularly at national level.  This failure is also a challenge to the other social partners.  The Government has primary responsibility to address these challenges.  

The Community Platform is the key forum for the Irish Traveller Movement to meet this challenge.  The review of the National Anti Poverty Strategy and the development of the related EU strategy are opportunities to address this challenge.  The next general election should also be an occasion to attempt to secure political commitments to the development of an Ireland where wealth is shared and where essential public services, education, health, transport, accommodation, and social welfare are of a high quality and accessible to all.          

4. ACTIVITIES REPORT

Building Traveller Participation 

Traveller participation continued to be at the centre of the work of the Irish Traveller Movement in the year 2000.  The Annual General Meeting is an important expression of this participation.  The Annual General Meeting in 2000 took place in the Clonard Community Centre, Wexford Town in March. 154 delegates were in attendance.  The Annual General meeting sets the broad policy for the work of the Irish Traveller Movement and approves the priority areas of work for the coming year.  The AGM is an important way of being accountable to the members of ITM for the work undertaken and the resources received and how these resources were managed.  The 2000 AGM was also an occasion to once again call for the implementation of the Equal Status Legislation.  The AGM was addressed by Mr Niall Crowley, Chief Executive of the Equality Authority and Ms Shiela Rogers Head of the Racial Equality Directorate in Northern Ireland.

The AGM elected the following people to the Central Group of the Irish Traveller Movement, P.J. McDonagh (Voice of the Traveller Magazine), Bernard Joyce (Clondalkin Travellers Development Group), Patrick McCann (Cork), Catherine O’Flynn (Cork), Eimear Berry (Visiting Teacher for Travellers), Nancy Power (Exchange House MABS), Maureen Ward (Galway Travellers Support Group), Rosaleen McDonagh (National Traveller Women’s Forum), Jim O Brien (Bray Travellers Development Group), and Catherine Mannion (Pavee Point).  

The retiring members of the Central Group, Rachel Doyle and Christy McDonagh were thanked for their work. 

The Central Group met 5 times during 2000 and at the Central Group following the Annual General Meeting they elected the following officers; Maureen Ward (Chairperson), Bernard Joyce (Secretary), and Jim O Brien (Treasurer).  Winnie Kerrigan (Pavee Point) was subsequently co-opted unto the Central Group.  Margaret Donaghy as coordinator of Traveller Movement (Northern Ireland) is invited to the Central Group meetings.    

The National Working Groups on Education, Accommodation, Anti-discrimination, Youth and Horses are the key ways for developing and promoting the policies of the Irish Traveller Movement.  The detailed work of these groups is outlined elsewhere in this report.  These working groups continue to demonstrate a partnership approach between Travellers and settled people and are a key mechanism for developing participation in the ITM.  

During 2000 the levels of demands on Traveller organisations at the local and regional level continued to grow with the emergence of the Local Traveller Accommodation Consultative Committees and the Traveller Committees in the Regional Health Board Areas.  These developments impacted negatively on the Irish Traveller Movement regional networking, as it was often the loser in the competition of time and priorities.  This reality and the reality of the emergence of new Traveller groups -particularly in the west and the midlands- requires re-examining this area of our work and the development of a new strategy for our regional networking.  Despite this reality two meetings took place of the East Coast Network, one of which was held in Wexford looked at the emerging equality legislation and infrastructure.  Two information exchange meetings were held in Mallow of the Southern Network.  The Western Network met once in Galway for general information exchange and a meeting of the western network in Tuam looked at the role of Traveller organisations.  In addition the staff of the Irish Traveller Movement remain active in DACT (Dublin Accommodation Coalition for Travellers).

The staff of ITM was also active in assisting with the emergence of new Traveller organisations and the strengthening of existing organisations, meetings to this effect were held in Ennis, Kildare, Sligo, Donegal, Mayo, Roscommon and Mullingar.

The year 2000 also marked the tenth anniversary of the Irish Traveller Movement.  The anniversary was celebrated with the production of our new website and  a visit of our central group (past and present) to Áras an Uachtarain where we were greeted by President McAleese.  The highlight of the celebrations was our 10th anniversary concert in the HQ Middle Abbey street, Dublin, which had over 300 friends and colleagues in attendance.  The night was particularly well marked by the talent demonstrated by Traveller performers who held their own with the more experienced professional entertainers who joined with us for the celebrations.              

Traveller Accommodation 

Good quality and appropriate accommodation provision is not the only thing needed for Travellers to be able to live their lives with dignity but it remains central to achieving that goal.  In recognition of this fact accommodation continues to be a primary part of the work of the Irish Traveller Movement.  

The ITM Accommodation Group met on five occasions in 2000, in Dublin, Limerick, Tullamore, Galway and Donegal.  There continues to be a high level of participation in this working group.  The Accommodation Group gives direction and support to the accommodation work of ITM and provides an opportunity to discuss and agree policy positions being put forward by ITM.  When the Accommodation Group meets in a particular area it is a chance to support the accommodation work of the Local Traveller group and is often an opportunity to engage with the officials and the local authority representatives.    

During 2000 ITM continues its support for the representatives of Traveller Interests on the Local Traveller Accommodation Consultative Committees.  Training was provided for the representatives in three locations, Dublin, Cork and Galway/Sligo.  The training was offered on three days spread over the year.  Approx 60 representatives of approximately 110 representatives of Traveller interests took part in the training.  The gathering of the representatives in this manner also provided a useful link between the local consultative committee and the national consultative committee.

The National Traveller Accommodation Consultative Committee continued to be active during 2000.  The Irish Traveller Movement representative along with our colleagues from Pavee Point and the National Traveller Women’s Forum spent a  good deal of time engaging with the work of the committee.  During 2000 the following documents were issued  from the committee:

• Accommodation Options for Travellers 

• Guidelines for the provision of Transient Sites 

• Grant and Loan scheme for Caravans 

Work was also undertaken on the management of Traveller accommodation and a series of seminars were held on this topic.  The Irish Traveller Movement provided input for each of these seminars.  Further work has being done on this input and it is now available as an ITM position paper.  

A detailed survey was undertaken on the establishment and operation of the Local Traveller Accommodation Consultative Committees.  This survey and a guide for best practice in consultation will issue shortly.  At present the national committee is preparing a report on the adequacy of the local Traveller accommodation programmes.  Other ongoing work of the national committee includes, guidelines for group housing and the design of caravans for long-term living.

The use by some local authorities of the discretionary powers of eviction under section 32 of the Housing (Traveller Accommodation) Act 1998 has caused increased hardship to some Travellers often those who are in the most vulnerable positions.  ITM has brought this development to the attention of the National Traveller Accommodation Consultative Committee and it is hoped that clearer procedures will be developed for the use of this section of the act.

Providing advice and support to Travellers and to local Traveller organisations at times when Travellers are in court due to their accommodation situation continues to be time consuming for the ITM accommodation workers.  While the Irish Traveller Movement would prefer if Traveller accommodation was dealt with away from the courts we still see it as a priority to be supportive of Travellers who do end up having their accommodation situation addressed by the courts.

In addition to the above the Irish Traveller Movement has made inputs into the National Economic and Social Forum (NESF) report on Social and Affordable Housing and Accommodation and the City and County Managers Association.  The Irish Traveller Movement has also linked to the work of the National Anti Poverty Strategy Group on housing and accommodation and the National Housing Forum.

Travellers and Equality 

The year 200 saw the introduction and commencement of the long promised Equal Status Legislation.  The Irish Traveller Movement marked the occasion of the passing of the bill through all stages of the Dáil with the sharing of an ‘Equality Cake’ outside of Leinster House.  The Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform, Mr John O Donoghue, as well as a number of other TD’s representing all the parties in the Dáil joined us in our celebrations.  While the Irish Traveller Movement welcomed the commencement of the legislation it is still too early to know if the legislation is sufficient to protect Travellers from discrimination.  Even at this early stage the Irish Traveller Movement has identified improvements to the legislation that should be made when it comes up for review in the coming year.

The ITM Anti Discrimination Group continued to hold ‘Know your Rights’ workshops throughout the year 2000.  These workshops were run in Sligo, Tullamore, Clondalkin and Enniscorthy.  These workshops while providing advice and information were also an opportunity to link with local service providers, including the Gardaí, local solicitors and Citizen Information Services.  The workshops were also an important occasion to inform people about the Employment Equality Act and to prepare people for the Equal Status legislation.

The Equality worker with the Irish Traveller Movement, Thomas McCann continues to be on the board of the Equality Authority.  This has being important for building a working relationship that contributes to the Equality Authorities ambition to be open and accessible to Travellers as well as the persons protected under the other grounds of the legislation.  During 2000 the ground work was undertaken for the hosting of a joint seminar between ITM and the Equality Authority on the Equal Status Legislation.  The ITM has also engaged with the open consultation sessions held by the Equality Authority.

The National Consultative Committee on Racism and Interculturalism (NCCRI) provides an opportunity for Traveller organisations to contribute to addressing the wider issues of racism and Interculturalism in Irish society.  The committee is also an important contact point between representatives of ethnic minorities, traditional social partners and key government departments.  The Irish Traveller Movement continued to be active in the work of the committee during 2000.  

The Irish Traveller Movement has also remained active on the Monitoring Committee on the Report of the Task Force on the Travelling Community in the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform.  This committee is due to publish its first monitoring report early in 2001.

In addition to the above work the ITM participated and gave inputs into Equality Conferences that were organised by the Southside Traveller Action Group (STAG) and the Tipperary Rural Travellers Project.  ITM has also been in contact with the Racial and Intercultural Unit established by the Gardai Siochanna and have attended seminars organised in conjuction with this development.  Ongoing work involves giving telephone advice to Travellers and to Local Traveller organisations regarding the equality legislation.    

Travellers and Education 

The Irish Traveller Movement made an application for funding for an Education Worker to the Minister for Education and Science in 1999.  At the same time as making the application a request was made for a meeting with the Minister.  The whole of 2000 passed without such a meeting taking place and the request is still outstanding.  The absence of an Education Worker has curtailed the work of ITM in this area.  This is very regrettable, as ITM have in the past demonstrated an ability to engage Traveller students and Traveller parents in debates and actions regarding Traveller education.

The ITM Education Group met twice during 2000.  These meetings served as an opportunity to develop the ITM input into the National Advisory Committee on Traveller Education based in the Department of Education and Science.  Through our participation on this committee the Irish Traveller Movement along with others has being successful in succeeding in getting the Traveller Visiting Teacher Service expanded to cover all areas of the country.  The work of this committee has been very slow in taking shape, however, towards the end of 2000 the Committee agreed to the drawing up of a National Traveller Education Strategy.  This should give a clear focus to the work of this committee.  The appointment of a dedicated high level official in the Department as provided for in the Programme for Prosperity and Fairness would enhance the work of this committee.   The ITM Education Group will need to revitalise its work to engage with the development of the strategy.    

During 2000 ITM has been in contact with Mary Immaculate College, Limerick regarding the development of a project, which would seek to secure the participation of Travellers in teacher training.  This proposal is still under consideration.  

Travellers and Health 

The work on addressing the health needs of Travellers is led by the National Traveller Women’s Forum and Pavee Point.  The Irish Traveller Movement along with these organisations is represented on the National Traveller Health Advisory Committee in the Department of Health and Children. It is a shocking fact that the health statistics for the Traveller community continue to resemble those of the settled Irish community of the 1940’s.  This reality demonstrates clearly the need for addressing in an integrated manner the many problems faced by Travellers as they go about their everyday life.  The Traveller health statistics alone speak volumes about the need for the Department of Health and Children to produce the National Traveller Health Strategy, which was recommended by the Task Force on the Travelling Community 1995 and committed to in the Partnership 2000 agreement.  The continued failure of the Department to produce the National Traveller Health Strategy at this stage is verging on gross negligence.  

Traveller Youth Work 

The ITM Youth Working Group continued to be active during 2000.  The participation in the group continues to be high.  As well as the planning meetings the group organised two activity events.  The first of these was a day’s media training for young Travellers.  This training was offered in conjunction with the Citizen Traveller campaign.  20 young Travellers and youth leaders took part in the training.  The second event day organised by the Youth Group was a Youth Talent Show.   This event took place in the Mansion House, Dublin and over 40 people from 7 organisations took part in the event.

The setting down of a more coordinated strategy and policy for youth work with Travellers is being developed through the Traveller Youth Interim Committee.  This committee brings together representatives of relevant Traveller organisations, the National Association of Traveller Centres, National Youth Organisations, and St Patrick’s College, Maynooth.  The Irish Traveller Movement is represented on this committee and the committee is almost at a stage to develop its final report.      

Travellers and Horses 

The introduction of the Control of Horse Act 1996 and the subsequent byelaws passed by local authorities has created difficulties for Travellers who keep horses.  The Irish Traveller Movement has responded to this by establishing a Horses Working Group.   This group met on 6 occasions over 2000.  The group has recorded the experience of Travellers in trying to comply with the legislation.  

The group has also identified the problems experienced by Travellers in relation to the operation of horse pounds.  The group was able to support Travellers in successfully challenging through the courts illegal practice, which had developed in relation to the pounding of Traveller horses.

Members of the horses group also attended local meetings organised by local Traveller organisations regarding the Horses issue.  These meetings were very well attended and meetings took place in Bray, Tullamore, Limerick, Wexford and Kerry.  This work is ongoing and in the future will need to concentrate on how to challenge the unfavourable outcomes of the law in relation to Travellers as well addressing the issue of the management and operation of Horse Pounds.

Information Work

During 2000 the Irish Traveller Movement developed its capacity to deliver information electronically.  The website was developed at www.itmtrav.com.  The website is a good source of general information particularly for enquiries received from students.  

A survey was also conducted of the technology capacity of the member organisations of the Irish Traveller Movement.  The result of the survey was used to support an application from the Irish Traveller Movement for funding under the CAIT (Community Access to Information Technology) initiative.  If this application is successful it will enable the Irish Traveller Movement to support the building of the capacity of our member organisations to make use of information technology.

The production of hard copy general information for distribution was to a large extent left aside during 2000.  ITM was grateful to the Voice of the Traveller magazine for regularly carrying information on ITM activities.  The production of general hard copy information including a regular ITM publication is on the agenda for 2001.

Partnership with other Traveller Organisations 

Over the last two years the Irish Traveller Movement in partnership with the National Traveller Women’s Forum, Pavee Point and the Parish of the Travelling People have jointly managed the Citizen Traveller campaign.  Citizen Traveller is a public education and awareness programme sponsored by the Government through the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform.   Citizen Traveller sets out to reach the wider public audience that is often not reached through the more targeted lobbying work of the Traveller organisations.  The Citizen Traveller programme has included market research (attitudes of settled people to Travellers), billboard and radio advertising, direct mail regarding Traveller accommodation (tested in 5000 homes in Tullamore and south county Dublin), as well as the development of Traveller Focus Week (which included the series of articles in the Irish Times).  The management and engagement in the activities of the Citizen Traveller campaign requires a great deal of ITM staff time as well as support from our member organisations.

In October 2000 the Irish Traveller Movement along with Pavee Point and the National Traveller Women’s Forum organised a major conference on ‘Community Work and Human Rights for Travellers’.  The conference provided a timely opportunity to affirm the importance of community work principles in the struggle to achieve human rights for Travellers.  The conference was also an opportunity to further the debate on key areas effecting our work including, Traveller participation, building solidarity, addressing conflict and violence, partnership with the state and local and national linkages.  The conference also provided the opportunity to look at key national and international developments that shape the context for our work.  Over 150 people took part in the conference.  The Galway Travellers Support Group in association with the Galway Arts Festival organised  ‘Whiden T’oie’ – a celebration of Traveller culture – on the first evening of the conference, over 300 people were in attendance.  

During 2000 we also held quarterly meetings with representatives of the National Traveller Women’s Forum and Pavee Point.  These meetings allowed us to share information on the plans of the different organisations.  The meetings were also an occasion to coordinate with regards to the representatives of the three organisations on the National Traveller Consultative Committees in the various Government Departments.  An event was organised to bring together all the representatives to share experiences across the various committees.

In addition to the above we continued to be represented on the management of Exchange House and to support the development of their Money Advice and Budgeting Service (MABS).  ITM was also represented on the Pavee Point National Advisory Committee on the Local Development Programme (LDP) and the Community Development Programme (CDP).

Community and Voluntary Sector Partnership  

The increased presence of black and minority ethnic communities creates new challenges in building an inter-cultural society in Ireland.  Slowly resources are being made available to build representative organisations within these communities.  Building alliances, solidarity and shared strategies with these organisations will be an important contribution towards building an inter-cultural Ireland.  During 2000 the Irish Traveller Movement has continued to be active in the Platform Against Racism.  This Platform offers an important contact point for ethnic minority organisations.  As well as meetings to share experiences and strategies, the Platform arranges meetings, targeted at people from ethnic minorities, on issues of general concern to ethnic communities.  During 2000 a meeting was organised to look at the Incitement to Hatred Act, the Equality Legislation and the European Union Race Directive.

The Platform Against Racism is also the Irish contact point for the European Network Against Racism (ENAR).  This network which is still in its infancy is an important link into the work following from the anti discrimination article (article 13) of the European Union Treaties.  This network also plays a role in ensuring that equality (including anti racism) is mainstreamed across all European Union policies.  ENAR has also an important contribution to make in ensuring that the issues facing, Roma, Gypsies and Travellers are addressed by the European Union.

The Irish Traveller Movement is funded along with six other national networks under the Programme for Support for National Anti Poverty Networks.  These seven networks meet on a regular basis to share information.  These networks supported the proposal to the Minister for Social Community and Family Affairs to nominate Fintan Farrell from ITM to the board of the Combat Poverty Agency .  The Minister accepted the proposal.  

The Irish Traveller Movement is more directly linked to the work of two of these networks.  Through the European Anti Poverty Network (EAPN) the Irish Traveller Movement is linked into the fight against poverty and social exclusion across the European Union.  The EAPN made an important contribution to the emergence and the shape of the European Union strategy in the fight against poverty and exclusion that was agreed by the heads of state at the Nice Summit in December 2000. The Irish Traveller Movement is also active in the work of the Community Workers Cooperative.  The ITM is particularly involved in their work on community development, local development, and local government reform.

The main source of cooperation in the community and voluntary sector in the fight against poverty, exclusion and inequalities is the Community Platform.  The Community Platform brings together 24 national organisations whose primary focus on the elimination of poverty, exclusion and inequalities.  The Community Platform is a mechanism by which ITM and the other organisations arrange their participation in national social partnership arrangements.  At the start of 2000 representatives of the Community Platform completed their negotiations of the new national agreement the Programme for Prosperity and Fairness (PPF).  The PPF was subsequently agreed by the organisations that participate in the Community Platform.  A great deal of the work of the Community Platform involves following up on the commitments and committees that emerge from the agreement.  The way Budget 2000 was delivered created real problems for the continued participation of the Community Platform in the PPF agreement.  The outcome of the budget measures while addressing some of the issues in relation to absolute poverty will increase the gap between the rich and the poor in Irish society.  This approach to the budget has been made more likely by the absence of an agreed relative income poverty target.  The Community Platform has set the attainment of a relative income poverty target as a key outcome from the current revision of the National Anti Poverty Strategy.  The Community Platform is also arranging a series of regional meetings for the members of the organisations who participate in the Community Platform to look at the outcomes and to access our future role in national social partnership.  

Outside of our participation in the community platform the Irish Traveller Movement has cooperated with a number of other community organisations in the National Economic and Social Forum (NESF) Disadvantage Assembly.  The Disadvantage Assembly brings together a number of representatives of the organisations to support the work of the representatives of the sector on the NESF. During 2000 the NESF worked on the issues of, the Local Development Programme, Labour Market shortages, Social and Affordable Housing and Accommodation, and Lone Parents.                

5.RESOURCES AND STAFFING

During 2000 the resources to run the Irish Traveller Movement were greatly enhanced.  The main source of funding continues to be the Programme for Support for National Anti Poverty Networks.  The funding for this programme comes from the Department of Social, Community and Family Affairs through the Combat Poverty Agency.  This funding is used to meet the core costs of the organisation including costs associated with premises, the coordinator and administrator post, matching funds for other staff posts and some of our programme activities.  

The other source of statutory funding comes from the Department of Environment and Local Government.  This funding allows us to employ a National Accommodation Officer and part of the expenses related to his work.  The Department of Environment and Local Government also made a contribution towards the costs involved in running the training for representatives of Traveller interests on the Local Traveller Accommodation Consultative Committees.  

The Joseph Rowntree Charitable Trust has continued to support our equality work.  This funding has allowed us to part fund our Equality Worker.  During 2000 we agreed arrangements with a Private Funder to support part of the work of the Irish Traveller Movement for a period up until the end of 2002.  This funding supports the employment of the Policy Support Worker, the second Accommodation Worker and part of the Equality Worker.  Funding from Citizen Traveller has allowed us to support the work involved in Citizen Traveller and contributes towards the employment of a part-time Information Worker.  The other source of funding is the contribution received through membership fees.  

The increased level of funding has allowed us to expand the numbers of staff in the Irish Traveller Movement.  We now have five full time staff and two part time staff.  During 2000 we also had some internal changes in the staff with Fintan Farrell taking up the Policy Support Worker position, and Catherine Joyce becoming the Coordinator.  Staff development has continued to be a priority concern and the staff have being encouraged to avail of development opportunities.  The current staffing arrangements are as follows:

1. • Coordinator                        Catherine Joyce

   • Accommodation Officer                David Joyce

   • Accommodation Worker                Gráinne O Toole

   • Equality Worker                        Thomas McCann

   • Policy Support Worker                Fintan Farrell

   • Administrator (part time)                Davorka Naletilic

   • Information Worker (part time)        Gary Quinn

This increase in staffing levels has been very welcome.  The main gap in our staffing arrangements is the absence of an Education Worker.  We will continue to lobby the Minister for Education and Science for support for this position.

The increased level of funding has also allowed us to improve the office arrangements.  We have being able to contribute to the installation of a lift, which makes the offices more accessible to people who use wheelchairs.  We have also being able to upgrade our computer equipment and create our own website.  We are shortly to have a third room available at our offices in Eustace Street.

6 IRISH TRAVELLER MOVEMENT (ITM)

The Irish Traveller Movement (ITM) is a national representative organisation with over 80 Traveller organisations in full membership.  Associate membership is made up of non-Traveller organisations and individuals who support the aims and objectives of the Irish Traveller Movement.  The Irish Traveller Movement was established in 1990.  

The work of the Irish Traveller Movement is guided by the understanding that Travellers are a distinct Irish ethnic group, with their own history and traditions of which nomadism is an important part.  

The Irish Traveller Movement was formed to be a national platform, through which Travellers and their organisations are enabled to: 

• Highlight the issues faced by Travellers and to press for real solutions. 

• Debate ideas and formulate and promote culturally appropriate initiatives. 

• Provide those active at a local level with support and solidarity. 

• Challenge the many forms of individual, structural and institutional racism experienced by Travellers. 

• Develop alliances and work in solidarity with other organisations representing the interests of other ethnic communities. 

• Develop alliances and work in solidarity with other community and voluntary sector organisations seeking to address poverty, inequalities and exclusion. 

The Irish Traveller Movement is a partnership of Travellers and settled people and this partnership is reflected in all of the structures of the Irish Traveller Movement. 

Appendix 3: Who does what for the Irish Traveller Movement! 

Appendix 4: