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ITM Annual Report 2001

Foreword 

2001 was a very productive year for the Irish Traveller Movement (ITM) and other Traveller organisations. It was also the year in which the effects of the Equal Status Act could be clearly seen; since the act came into being Travellers have begun to use the legislation to challenge discrimination in the courts. We must continue to encourage Travellers and Traveller support groups to use this legislation in every area where discrimination exists. 

This annual report focuses on some of the key issues for ITM in relation to accommodation, equality, youth and education and outlines the continuing role that ITM plays in a number of arenas in partnership with other Traveller groups and with the community and voluntary sector.  

Of particular importance in the coming year is the publication of the Government’s National Traveller Health Strategy, which signals the right way forward in relation to Traveller health-care strategies and outlines a clear agenda for better access for Travellers to an improved health-care service. 

I would like to welcome any new members in the ITM’s working groups and thank those who played an active role in these groups over the past year, thank-you also to the members of the Central Group for their continuing commitment to the management of ITM. Finally, I would like to thank the staff for their continued dedication and resolve; it will be through this dedication that we will achieve our goals. 

Nancy Power 
Chairperson 
Irish Traveller Movement 
Photo by I. Irigoien. 2002 

Highlights of 2001 

Equal Status Legislation 

The response to the Equal Status Legislation introduced in 2000, was immediate and during 2001 Travellers took a considerable number of anti-discrimination cases to the Equality Authority. These numbers continue to increase and to date a huge percentage of Travellers are interacting with the legislation, in fact Travellers took 70% of the cases under the Goods and Services Measure, and are the largest group using the Equality Authority to implement the Equal Status Act.  

Through taking cases Travellers can not only test the effectiveness of the legislation but also highlight and tackle the widespread discrimination that exists. 

2001 also saw the first Traveller case taken and won under the Employment Legislation. 

The Irish Traveller Movement has played a major role in supporting and assisting Travellers to exercise this right. As a result of the amount of cases that have been taken by Travellers, who have been discriminated against, the ITM have developed a Community Advocacy Programme to further support this work in the future. 

Community Advocacy 

During 2001 ITM, in partnership with the Equality Authority, made significant progress in the development of the Community Advocacy Programme. The programme has been developed focusing on the current Equal Status Legislation and it is envisaged that a number of key people will be trained to support Travellers in accessing their rights. The initiative will develop the capacity of local Traveller organisations to provide the information and services necessary for Travellers to access their rights under the current legislation. 

Traveller Access to Legal Services 

The 2001 Conference, ‘Towards Greater Access for all Travellers to Information and Legal Services,’ was a great success and highlighted the barriers Travellers face when attempting to access legal services.  

As a result of the conference ITM has prepared a funding application to assist in the development of an ITM legal unit. It is envisaged that the unit will support Travellers in taking cases around key areas of work and provide greater access to mainstream legal services through the training of solicitors and barristers.  

2001, like previous years, has seen its fair share of negative images of Travellers in the media. ITM through the Citizen Traveller Campaign has been involved in trying to counteract this negative image by actively promoting positive images of Travellers across a wide range of media spectrums. 

Support to Members 

Throughout 2001 it has proven once again difficult to see real change in the situation of Travellers on the ground. With only just over 90 units of accommodation provided throughout the country ITM have been supporting local groups in designing strategies to secure the implementation of the Traveller Accommodation Programmes. Alongside this ITM has supported the emergence of new Traveller organisations in Longford, Roscommon, Cavan and Louth. 

The Launch of the ITM Equality Pack 

The launch of the equality pack was a resounding success. It includes video material, workshop material and ideas and focuses on providing the tools for the delivery of anti-discrimination workshops. 70 – 80 participants attended from many areas and the launch included training workshops in the use of the Equality Pack.  

Our goal is to ensure that at least one person from each Traveller group will be in a position to facilitate anti-discrimination workshops and ultimately pass these skills onto others. The response to the training initiative was excellent and we continue to hear good reports of workshops carried out using the materials provided in the pack. 

Accommodation.  

In May 2001 ITM launched ‘A Lost Opportunity -A Critique of the Local Traveller Accommodation Programmes.’ This report examines the adequacy of these programmes and highlights that collectively they will not meet the needs of all Travellers in relation to accommodation. However, it also highlights that some individual programmes are progressive and imaginative and have comprehensive strategies to address the accommodation needs of Travellers, if implemented.
 

Also, ITM and Traveller Movement Northern Ireland commissioned a piece of research to examine contemporary patterns of nomadism in Ireland and how nomadism can be resourced and supported. This is due to be finalised in early 2002 
 

Priorities for 2002 

Since the publication of the Report of the Task Force on the Travelling Community in 1995 and subsequent structures set-up to implement these recommendations, the ITM would have understood that the biggest challenge facing us was to ensure delivery on these commitments. However, recent events have shown us that there is a lack of commitment nationally and locally to bringing about real change in the situation of Travellers. The passing of the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill, criminalising trespass on public and private land shows us that our struggle for Human Rights for Travellers is far from won and far from over. The criminalisation of trespass means that the nomadic identity of Travellers will be seriously undermined and the 1200 families living on camps without facilities will be seriously affected by this provision. Our main commitment for the coming year is to ensure that this legislation is challenged and overturned. 

Nevertheless, over the past few years there has been a shift in relation to policy development at national level. The challenge for ITM now is to ensure that this is reflected at a local level. Legislative change has strengthened the position of Travellers in challenging the discrimination and racism they face. ITM has an important role to play in supporting local groups in the struggle to obtain human rights for all Travellers. 

Review of Housing (Traveller Accommodation) Act 1998  

The Government’s Housing Act and the adoption of Local Traveller Accommodation Programmes by Local Authorities have not produced acceptable results or significant progress and the ITM will be addressing this issue in its contribution to the review of the legislation due to take place this year, (2002). 

The review should look at the progress (or lack of) to date and it is essential that other strategies and measures be introduced to tackle the non-implementation of the legislation and the failure to tackle the backlog in Traveller accommodation provision. 

Accommodation and Traveller Groups - Participation 

ITM has supported and encouraged local Traveller groups to participate on the Local Traveller Accommodation Consultative Committees. Over the coming year it will be important that this participation is rewarded and valued. One way of valuing this participation is to ensure that the Local Traveller Accommodation Programmes are delivered on.  

ITM will be taking time to examine the current Traveller accommodation strategy, with all of the member groups, and look at alternative mechanisms to ensure the delivery of accommodation to all Travellers. This work will feed in to the Review of the Housing (Traveller Accommodation) Act, 1998 and its implementation due to be held in Autumn 2002 and the next National Agreement. 

Travellers and Education  

During 2001 a number of high profile cases drew national attention to the issue of Traveller education. It is clear that there is still a long way to go in ensuring that Travellers have equal access to education, without facing open discrimination.  

As a priority ITM are seeking to employ an education worker full time and a proposal for this funding will be pursued with the Department of Education and Science. We believe that there is a need to develop a national strategy on Traveller education issues through interaction with local Traveller organisations, parents and students. There is also a need to consolidate ITM’s role in the development of inter-cultural awareness programs for students, parents and educators.  

In 2002, ITM will continue to promote an intercultural education system for all. In the coming year we will complete research into the role that Traveller organisations play in education and in the promotion of intercultural education. The role they are playing in promoting Travellers’ rights through the school system will also be highlighted. 

During 2001 the ITM education working group consolidated its membership improving its ability to provide support to regional groups, nevertheless, the development of our role in this area remains a priority for the coming year. 

Traveller Youth Leaders - Summer Workshop 

Creating awareness and encouraging activism remain key issues for Traveller youth groups. Young Travellers have and will continue to play, an active role in the working groups of the Irish Traveller Movement.  

 

 

 

In 2002 ITM will work with young Travellers to develop a youth leadership strategy including training for youth leaders; to this end ITM are organising a summer workshop for youth workers and youth leaders to define the agenda and way forward for the further development of youth leadership within the Traveller Community.  This work will examine the role youth work can play in challenging the discrimination and racism faced by young Travellers.

The Development of ITM Regional Structures 

In 2002 a priority for ITM will be the development of regional structures, in tandem with Traveller organisations nationwide we have put together a strategy which outlines the need for regional structures, the basis for the division by area, the counties involved and the role these regional structures will play at local and national level. The goal is to use the improved regional structures to strengthen local groups and their impact on policy and real progress at local and national level. 

Community Advocacy 

The initial success of the Community Advocacy Programme will depend on successful training and sustained development. 2002 will be a significant year for the programme beginning with a series of training days, developed in partnership with the Equality Authority, for Community Advocacy participants.  

These training days will be crucial to the development of the type of support structure that is put in place for Community Advocates. 

Publication of the Horses Report 

The publication of the ITM Horses Report will be a significant event in 2002. The report examines the impact of current legislation, ‘The Control of Horses Act,’ on horse ownership within the Traveller community and the knock-on adverse affect on Traveller culture.  
 

ITM hopes that the launch of the report will encourage a re-evaluation of the legislation in light of the reports findings and indeed stimulate a greater interest in this fundamental part of Traveller culture. This report is covered in greater detail in the Activities section of this publication. 

Activities Report 

AGM 2001 

The AGM and Conference, ‘Towards Greater Access to Legal Services,’ were a great success with high attendance and positive feedback. The conference, which featured inputs from Attorney General Michael McDowell and Rachael Morris -Coordinator of the Traveller Law Research Unit in the Cardiff School of Law in the UK -, focused on Traveller access to legal services and the difficulties faced by Travellers in accessing information and legal expertise. There were constructive workshops with significant results, which informed the strategy of the ITM legal subgroup.

As a result of the conference ITM has submitted funding applications to various bodies to assist in the development of an ITM legal unit. It is envisaged that the unit will support Travellers in taking cases around key areas of work and provide greater access to legal services through the training of solicitors and barristers.  

The AGM is an important illustration of the participation of Traveller groups in the overall work of ITM. As building Traveller participation at local and national level remain key to the work of ITM, the AGM is an important arena for stimulating participation and resolve. Undoubtedly, the AGM is also important in terms of accountability and transparency; members can see how work throughout the year has progressed and how received resources and funding are being managed.

The AGM 2001 elected the following people to the Central Group: Winnie Kerrigan (Pavee Point), Nancy Power (Exchange House MABS), Maureen Ward (Galway Travellers Support Group), Jim O'Brien (Bray Travellers Development Group), Ruth Swanton (Pavee Point), Michael Collins, Must Flynn (Wexford). Michael Collins and Murt Flynn were co-opted onto the Central Group after the AGM. At subsequent meetings of the Central Group, Nancy Power was elected Chairperson.  

Policy Work 

The key tasks of the Policy Worker during 2001 covered four areas: Enhancing the inputs made by other ITM staff into public debates and policymaking, strengthening ITM’s input and visibility in national policy making, strengthening the capacity of ITM’s work in Education and strengthening ITM’s internal policy areas.

Over the year much progress was made in each of these areas including input, research and assistance into a considerable number of reports, policy making documents and published research, including,

 

• ITM Guidelines for Group Housing

• ‘Equality Reviews in the Workplace’  

• The Support Pack on the Equality/Diversity Aspects of Quality Customer Service for the Civil and Public Service

• Anti-Racist Workplace Week Resource Pack 

• Research on Equality/Diversity in the service delivery 

• ‘Building the Picture - The role of data in achieving equality’; Ursula Barry 

• ‘Charting the Equality Agenda: A Coherent Framework for Equality Strategies in Ireland North and South’; K Zappone

• Report to the Equality Authority on the Equality Agenda for Older People 

• Equality Authority Videos on Equality Legislation 

• Traveller Advocacy Programme in partnership with the Equality Authority 

• Research on Travellers and access to labour market programmes (On-going) 

• Documents produced by Citizen Traveller in relation to equality 

• National Traveller Health Strategy 

• NATCC report 

 

In strengthening ITM input and visibility in National Policy Making ITM continued its active presence in a number of collective community and voluntary sector organisations and national committees, and increased its sphere of influence through active participation in a number of National and European Networks.
 

Community and Voluntary Sector Partnership 

ITM continues to be very active in the European Anti Poverty Network (EAPN), the goal experience learned at the local and national level and the lessons and experience learned at the level of the European Union.  In the context of the enlargement work of EAPN, the work of ITM is now well recognised in the European context, ensuring increased visibility on issues for Roma, Gypsies and Travellers in an enlarged European Union.

The Community Platform remains one of the key arenas in which organisations and groups can come together and respond collectively to policy making. The platform plays a key role in linking with National Partnership arrangements and facilitating the collective voice of over 20 national community and voluntary sector organisations, involved in the fight against poverty, exclusion and inequality.  ITM continues to play an important role in the strategic and tactical work of the Community Platform, contributing to wider policies such as social welfare rates, childcare and the review of the National Anti Poverty Strategy ensuring positive outcomes for Travellers. 

Throughout 2001, ITM also pursued specific Traveller commitments through the Community Platform; including the National Traveller Health strategy commitments outlined in the Programme for Prosperity and Fairness.

The Platform Against Racism (PAR) continued to meet during 2001 and ITM continued its vocal presence at these meetings. PAR provides a link between Irish anti-racist NGO’s and the European Network Against Racism (ENAR).  Through this work ITM have tracked the development of the European Strategy on discrimination and the race directive under article 13 of the Treaty.  This work has also involved inputting into the review on the Incitement to Hatred Legislation.

During 2001 ITM also remained very active on national committees including; The National Traveller Accommodation Consultative Committee (NTACC), The National Consultative Committee on Racism and Inter-culturalism (NCCRI), The National Racism Awareness Committee (NRAC), The Board of the Combat Poverty Agency (CPA) the Board of the Equality Authority, the NTAC and the NTHAC. 

ITM representation on each of these committees/agencies ensures that our agenda is heard and that we can influence policymaking decisions with positive results for Travellers. 

ITM were also in a position to provide input into; the Preparation for the World Conference on Racism (Summer 2001), the agenda of the Human Rights Commission and the Submission to the Working Group on the Integration of Refugees. ITM were present at the World Conference on Racism and were also involved in influencing the NGO and Government programme for action and declaration.

Working with the NRAC we were able to ensure that it addressed all forms of racism, including that experienced by Travellers and that it didn't concentrate solely on issues of refugees and asylum seekers thereby reinforcing the notion that racism is a by-product of the presence of increased numbers of refugees and asylum-seekers in Ireland. 

Throughout 2001 ITM representation on the Board of the CPA meant we were strategically placed to ensure that Travellers remained visible within the debate on poverty and exclusion in Ireland. The CPA plays an important tactical role in relation to the National Anti-Poverty Strategy and ITM were in a position to make an input in this area.

Education 

Since its inception, ITM has identified Travellers and education as one of its key priority areas.

In the absence of a designated Education Worker ITM have continued to develop the work of the Education Working Group. During 2001 there were five meetings of the ITM Education working Group and two half-day discussions with Traveller parents in Tullamore and Waterford on education and Travellers. ITM also developed a policy position on 'Travellers and access to third level education' and met with access officers in third level institutions to progress this work.

ITM continued to be represented on the National Advisory Committee on Traveller Education. We lobbied for the implementation of the commitments on Traveller Education in the Programme for Prosperity and Peace and also lobbied the Department in relation to the pupil teacher ratio in 'disadvantaged' schools and the exclusion of Travellers from the count in relation to this ratio.

We also developed and secured resources for a research proposal to examine the role and practice of Traveller organisations in relation to education and to identify the types of resources that would be needed to enable Traveller organisations to play this role more effectively.

Regional Structures 

One of the key areas, which the ITM wanted to develop over the last year, was the link between its national and its regional work.  A draft policy document on regional work was prepared and discussed by the Central Group of ITM and at five regional workshops.  As a result of these discussions a draft document was prepared; a template for the future role of ITM regional networks which recommends the following:

 

• Increased Traveller involvement in and awareness of the work of the Irish Traveller Movement and feeding into the national policy working groups of ITM.

• Increased Traveller awareness of campaigns aimed at improving the situation of Travellers in Ireland. 

• Increased capacity of Travellers and Traveller organisations to take advantage of new policies, laws and institutional changes that have the potential to improve the situation for Travellers.  

• Providing mutual support for Traveller organisations in the regions and supporting the emergence of new Traveller organisations where there are gaps. 

• Facilitating the representation of Traveller interests in appropriate regional structures. The means to fulfil this role would be agreed at the regional level.  

The document now needs to be discussed with the general membership. If the recommendations are implemented it will ensure a greater integration between the national level work of ITM and the work of local organisations.

Traveller Accommodation

Accommodation provision for Travellers continues to be a priority for ITM and a contentious issue for government and local authorities. As a primary part of our work accommodation issues can often be high profile and controversial and we maintain a steadfast commitment to challenging any discriminatory practices such as the evictions of Travellers with nowhere to go. 

The ITM Accommodation Group met on five occasions in 2001, in Dublin, Wicklow, Tipperary, South Dublin and Roscommon. There continues to be a high level of participation in this working group, providing an opportunity for direct discussion on policy issues and debate on strategy. The Accommodation Group continues to give direction and support to local groups through local and regional meetings, also providing us with an opportunity to engage with officials on the ground. 

There was also sustained support for the representatives of Traveller interests on local Traveller Accommodation Consultative Committees. The NTACC was also very active during 2001 and ITM along with Pavee Point and the NTWF worked frequently with the committee on a number of policy documents and guidelines, notably: 

• The Guidelines on Group Housing  

• An Analysis of Local Authority Traveller Accommodation Programmes 

In addition, a new scheme on the management of Traveller accommodation was put in place; the scheme was designed with considerable input from ITM and our partners from other Traveller organisations. 

Due to the increase in the use of the discretionary powers of eviction (under section 32 of the Housing – Traveller Accommodation –Act) by certain local authorities in 2001, ITM conducted a telephone poll to determine the effect on Traveller families.  

The results of the poll indicate that 471 families were moved on, without being offered alternative accommodation, between 2000 and 2001.  

The accommodation officers in ITM also spent a considerable amount of time providing advice and support to Traveller organisations and individuals, in the run up to and during court cases related to their accommodation status. This will remain a priority in 2002, as will our persistent and vocal challenge to section 32 and any other discriminatory amendments to the Housing Act that will cause further hardship for Traveller families. 

ITM accommodation officers also made significant contributions to the National Anti-Poverty Strategy (NAPS) group on housing and accommodation during 2001. 

Travellers and Equality 

There were a number of changes to the nature of equality work within the ITM during 2001.  

The anti-discrimination subgroup merged with the legal subgroup and the focus is now on national and regional strategy and providing support to local organisations. A series of regional workshops examining anti-discrimination issues were delivered throughout the country in conjunction with the launch of the ITM Equality Pack. Participation levels were very high as was attendance and the response has been very positive at both a local and regional level.

We have also been focusing on the heavy caseload undertaken by the Equality Authority in relation to the Equal Status Legislation. This presents a challenge to build local platforms for tackling discrimination. 

The use of the Equal Status Legislation by Travellers was continually monitored throughout 2001 and the trends and statistics in this first year will be used to inform future ITM strategy in relation to the legislation. To date Traveller groups and individuals have mainly interacted with the legislation by challenging discrimination by providers of goods and services. It should also be noted that, even though a large percentage of the cases taken have been won, the reactions have been mixed; in particular the Vintners Association of Ireland has been very vocal in its condemnation of cases taken against its members, accusing Travellers of [riding the gravy train of compensation]. While this is regrettable it highlights how difficult it can be to take cases, in the presence of negative campaigning 

To date there has been no real change in the treatment and perception of Travellers by providers of goods and services. Our real challenge for the coming year is the question, ‘how do we translate legislative change into real change?’ 

ITM continues to be very active on the NCCRI and during 2001 we also made important contributions to PAR and the KNOW Racism campaign. In an increasingly multi-cultural Ireland the main focus of these groups is the development of the National Anti-Racism Plan. It is vital that we continue our participation in this arena and continue to promote the importance of solidarity and wider alliances in influencing change. Traveller organisations and the Traveller community must remain vocal in the national debate on the policies, practices and institutions needed to make an intercultural and anti-racist Ireland.

Travellers and Horses 

The Control of Horses Act became law in March 1997; it was introduced in response to the problem of wandering urban horses and has since had serious consequences for the Traveller community. The Act gave local authorities the power to draw up bylaws to control horses in their area. These bylaws are discriminatory and hold conditions that many Travellers are unable to meet.  

During 2001 ITM researched the impact of the Control of Horses Act and have produced a report, which we want to use as a tool to influence change. The findings of the report confirm that the keeping of horses has been, and will continue to be, an important expression of Traveller culture. It also reveals that the Control of Horses Act, and the way in which it has been implemented, is putting intolerable strain on this aspect of Traveller culture.  

The report is due to be published in Spring 2002 and contains a number of recommendations including: 

• A review of the Control of Horses Act by the Equality Authority and the Department of Agriculture 

• Regulation of local authority by-laws and impounding practices 

• Traveller Horse Projects designed to assist owners to comply with the legislation 

ITM hopes that the launch of the report will encourage a re-evaluation of the legislation in light of the reports findings and indeed stimulate a greater interest in this fundamental part of Traveller culture. 

Travellers and Health 

During 2002 ITM will re-evaluate our strategy regarding Traveller health. As a member organisation we must consider how we are going to determine our responsibilities and define our role in this area. We are currently active in the National Traveller Health Network and will continue our participation at this level.

Information – Access and Provision 

In 2001 the ITM website was the main source of information for people looking for information on the organisation and its work.  The site now hosts many of the publications produced by ITM, including the report ‘A Lost Opportunity, A Critique of Local Authority Accommodation Programmes’ by Kathleen Fahey.  The 1999 and 2000 annual report are also available on the website.  Schools and Colleges have been able to use the site as a basis for projects and research in the area of Traveller exclusion and discrimination.  Since its development the website has become a link to many of the websites of other Irish human rights based organisations.  It also contains free job listings of the member organisations as well as events and activities undertaken by ITM. All of this can be found at www.itmtrav.com

2001 saw the return of the ITM newsletter, The Irish Traveller, after a much-missed absence of two years.  The newsletter is intended to give general information on the activities of the Irish Traveller Movement and its member organisations around the country.  The newsletter which first appeared in hard copy can also be found on the website.

In 2000 ITM submitted an application under the CAIT (Community Access to Information Technology) initiative in order to support building the capacity of our member organisations to make use of information technology. Unfortunately the application was not successful and we are now looking at alternative ways of supporting this initiative. 

Conclusions

Much was achieved over the past year.  The success that some Travellers have had in bringing claims before the Director of Equality Investigation is welcome.  This development has come at a personal cost for Travellers who have taken cases. The attack on character that is part of the defence in some cases is very hard for Travellers to face.  The hope is that the emerging Advocacy Programme will prepare Travellers and the Traveller organisations to face this reality in the future.

In relation to accommodation the whole range of necessary guidelines and structures are in place.  However, progress on the ground is minimal.  ITM will have to face difficult questions about the overall accommodation policy and the current strategy in the coming year. 

The issue of Human Rights for Travellers also needs to be prioritised in the coming year, including developing links with the Human Rights Commission. With all the progress to date, we are still waiting for real change for Travellers, real visible change in people’s lives, something that is still not a reality in the Ireland of the 21st century.
 

We look forward to continued co-operation and progress in the coming year. 

 

Resources and Staffing 

In 2001 the main source of ITM funding came from the Programme of 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 and is used to meet the rental and administrative costs of our office. This funding is also used to finance the Co-ordinators post, matching funds for other staff posts and certain programme activities. 

The other source of statutory funding comes from the Department of the Environment and Local Government, which allows us to employ a National Accommodation Officer and a percentage of their expenses. The Department also makes a contribution to the training of representatives on the Local Traveller Accommodation Consultative Committees.

ITM receives funding from a number of other sources including the following: The Joseph Rowntree Charitable Trust, Atlantic Philanthropies and Citizen Traveller, which play a crucial role in allowing us to carry out the work of ITM as a national representative organisation. This funding is used to employ a Policy Worker, Equality Worker, additional Accommodation Worker and a part-time Information Worker. The increased funding has allowed us to expand the number of staff and we now have five full time staff and three part-time staff. Staff planning and development has and will continue to be a priority concern.

Current staff as follows: 

Co-ordinator                           Catherine Joyce

Accommodation Officer                 David Joyce

Accommodation Worker                 Grainne O’Toole

Equality Worker                         Thomas McCann

Policy Support Worker                 Fintan Farrell / Paul Ginnell

Information Worker (part-time)         Phil Mullen

Administrator (part-time)                 Anne Jennings

Accountant (one day p.w.)                 Davorka Naletilic

 

A proposal will be sent to the Department of Education and Science to fund an Education Worker as ITM continues to lobby for funding for this vital position.

Our resources have also been augmented in 2001 by the use of another room at our Eustace Street premises, we now have three rooms including a meeting room and we have also purchased a new photocopier. In addition, in 2002, the focus will be on optimising our computer systems and developing staff IT skills.

Appendices 

Appendix 1 

Index of Groups – highlighting ITM staff roles and responsibilities  

     

Appendix 2  

Financial Report 2001 

Available upon request