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ITM Annual Report 2002

Foreword

2002 was a very challenging and turbulent year for the Irish Traveller Movement (ITM) and other Traveller organisations. It was the year in which the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act, 2002 - trespass law - was introduced which has prevented Travellers from being nomadic and which ensured that hundreds of Travellers awaiting permanent accommodation were forcibly moved on with no alternative accommodation. Thousands of Travellers took to the streets around the country to protest at this unjust law. Unfortunately, we also saw the closure of the Citizen Traveller Campaign, which sought to highlight Traveller issues in the Media.

Alongside this ITM examined the barriers to the provision of Traveller accommodation and designed solutions to these issues. This work involved the publication of ‘Charting a Future Strategy for Traveller Accommodation,’ a report that ITM will use to lobby for progress in this area. Travellers continued to challenge discrimination under the Equal Status Act and have also taken an important case challenging the trespass law to the High Courts. In addition ITM received funding to establish a legal unit, which has come at a vital time where legal mechanisms need to be fully utilised to advance Travellers’ human rights.

This annual report focuses on some of the key issues for ITM in relation to accommodation, equality, youth, education and legal issues 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 are the Review of the Housing (Traveller Accommodation) Act, 1998, the next National Partnership Agreement and the establishment of the legal unit within ITM.

I would like to thank all ITM members and those of the Central Group for their continuing commitment to the management of ITM. I would also like to welcome our new staff and new members and wish you well in the coming year.

Nancy Power, Chairperson, ITM Central Group

Main Events of 2002

Direct action to combat negative laws

Traveller groups took to the streets all over the country to protest against the introduction of the Trespass law, Section 21 of the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2002. This provision criminalizes trespass on public and private land. In practice it means that both families who are camped on public land waiting for accommodation and families camped for shorter periods on public land can be moved on by the Gardaí with no notice, on a foot of a complaint from the local authority. This provision has allowed some local authorities to avoid their duty to provide both permanent and transient accommodation. The trespass law was introduced in July 2002 and since then hundreds of Travellers have been moved on with nowhere to go. The majority of these families are living on their own or in small groups and are awaiting accommodation.

This law was introduced without any consultation with ITM or other Traveller groups and as a result all communication between ITM and the government, on Traveller accommodation issues, broke down. ITM supported those families who were victims of the trespass law by seeking legal advice on their behalf and finding alternative accommodation where families were made homeless. ITM also set up a monitoring system to ensure that the use of the act is recorded.

Legal working group

In 2002, the anti-discrimination working group (who worked on issues relating to Equality legislation) and the legal working group (who respond to a range of legal issues) merged. The newly formed legal working group put together the proposal for establishing the legal unit project and also oversaw the development of the Community Advocacy Programme.

Funding for the Traveller Legal Unit

ITM were successful in securing funding to establish a legal unit over a three-year period. This unit will seek to advance the right of members of the Traveller community to access expert legal advice and representation and progress Traveller human and legal rights under the various legislative frameworks. The funding was agreed in December 2002 and ITM then initiated a consultation process with member groups on the functions of the legal unit.

Publication of the National Traveller Health Strategy

In February 2002 the National Traveller Health Strategy was published. The National Strategy is very important as it acknowledges that Travellers are an ethnic group and therefore the recommendations are based on the distinct needs of Travellers. The challenge now is to ensure that its recommendations are implemented.

Citizen Traveller Campaign (CTC)

ITM has been involved in trying to challenge the negative media portrayal of Travellers and promoting a greater understanding of Traveller issues across a wide range of media spectrums through the CTC. In 2002 the CTC funding was withdrawn by government, this came as a surprise to ITM as it was contrary to the results of an independent evaluation of the CTC emphasising its positive effects. The ITM hopes to secure further funding in 2003 to build on the achievements of the CTC.

Membership Development Work

Throughout 2002 ITM has continued to support groups nationwide on a range of issues, in addition to providing support for emerging groups. ITM were also successful in securing funding to employ a community worker who will focus on the needs of member groups and develop the essential regional networks.

National Accommodation Conference and Launch of ‘Charting A Future Strategy for Traveller Accommodation’

The ITM accommodation working group hosted a National Traveller Accommodation Conference to examine the barriers to the delivery of Traveller accommodation and put forward recommendations on what could be put in place to progress the issues. As a result an Expert Group made up of Traveller groups, housing and local government experts and planning experts was set up to refine the recommendations coming from the conference and circulated a draft report to ITM member groups. This work led to the publication and launch of ‘Charting a Future Strategy for Traveller Accommodation’ on International Human Rights Day, December 10^th 2002. This report recommends a series of actions, which would considerably improve the accommodation situation of Travellers. It will be used to feed into the National Review of the Housing (Traveller Accommodation) Act 1998.

Activities Report

Annual General Meeting 2002

The AGM and Conference, ‘Travellers Human Rights,’ were a great success with high attendance and positive feedback. The conference, which featured inputs from William Binchy and Inez McCormack set out the challenges facing us in creating a human rights discourse and in tackling negative developments such as the implementation of the trespass law.

At the AGM ITM policies are debated and decided. It is an important mechanism for groups to feed into ITM’s policies and shape the work of ITM on an annual basis.

Policy Work

A number of key submissions were made in 2002 and ITM continued to be actively involved in a number of community and voluntary sector organisations and national committees at a local, regional, national and European level as follows:

Submissions:

January 2002, response to Fine Gaels proposed legislation to increase powers to move Travellers with nowhere to go
February 2002, Submission to the Department of Justice Equality and Law Reform on Large Scale Traveller Encampments
April 2002, Submission to the UN Committee on the Irish Governments Second Periodic Report on the UN Convention on Economic, Social, and Cultural Rights
May 2002, Briefing Paper for Government on the negative effect of the introduction of the Housing (Miscellaneous) Provisions Act 2002, prepared in co-operation with the National Traveller Women’s Forum and Pavee Point
June 2002, Submission to the Equality Authority Strategic Plan 2003-2005
September 2002, Submission to the Department of Education on Anti-racism, Inclusion and Interculturalism in the Irish Education System
September 2002, Submission to the National Action Plan Against Racism
October 2002, Submission to the Commission on Liquor Licensing
December 2002, Submission to the Department of Justice Equality and Law Reform on the Race Directive

Community and Voluntary Sector

ITM continues to be very active in a range of organisations:

Traveller specific such as:

Clondalkin Travellers Development Group
Tullamore Travellers Movement
Exchange House
Exchange House Money Advice and Budgeting Service
Dublin Accommodation Coalition with Travellers
National Traveller Health Network

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 26 national community and voluntary sector organisations, which are involved in the fight against poverty, exclusion and inequality.

The Platform Against Racism (PAR) provides a link between Irish Anti-Racist NGOs and the European Network Against Racism (ENAR).

The European Anti Poverty Network (EAPN), provides a bridge between the lessons and experience learned at a local and national level and the lessons and experience learned at a European level. Through 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.

Committees

National Consultative Committee on Racism and Inter-culturalism (NCCRI), set up under the aegis of the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform during European Year Against Racism 1998.

The Equality Authority, established under the Equality Legislation with an independent board of individuals and representatives from a range of organisations.

Know Racism Campaign, established by the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform, an independent Committee raising awareness of racism issues in Ireland.

Monitoring Committee for the Report of the Task Force on the Travelling Community, set up as a result of the Report on the Task Force on the Travelling Community 1995.

National Traveller Accommodation Consultative Committee, set up as a result of the Housing (Traveller Accommodation) Act, 1998, whose role is to advise the Minister on all aspects of Traveller Accommodation.

National Traveller Health Advisory Committee, established on foot of the Report of the Task Force on the Travelling Community (1995) to develop policy in relation to Traveller health. This Committee was instrumental in drawing up the National Traveller Health Strategy 2002.

National Advisory Committee on Traveller Education, set up as a result of the Report of the Task Force on the Travelling Community, which advises the Minister on all aspects of Traveller education

Education

During 2002 there were three meetings of the ITM Education Working Group and ITM also secured funding to produce a video on access to third level education. The education working group has also secured funding to produce its research. This research identifies the resources needed to enable Traveller organisations to play an effective role in furthering Traveller education issues.

ITM also continued to be represented on the National Advisory Committee on Traveller Education and promoted training for schools on Interculturalism.

Regional Structures

The draft policy document on regional work was adopted at the AGM 2002. A template for the future role of ITM regional networks was agreed and recommends the following:

Increased Traveller involvement in and awareness of the work of ITM
Increased possibilities to feed 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.
Facilitating the representation of Traveller interests in appropriate regional structures. The means to fulfil this role would be agreed at a regional level.

Traveller Accommodation

ITM responds to crisis situations on a daily basis when Travellers are being evicted, and accommodation provision continues to be one of the main areas of work for the organisation. In 2002 ITM provided a lot of support to families being moved on under the trespass law and established a monitoring system to record its use. In 2003 a report of its use will be published and presented to government to lobby for changes in the law.

The ITM Accommodation Group develops policy in relation to Traveller accommodation issues and provides support and direction to the two National Accommodation Officers. This group met on five occasions in 2002, in Westmeath, Meath and Dublin. There continues to be a high level of participation in this group and it continues to give direction and support to local groups through local and regional meetings, which also provides us with an opportunity to engage with officials on the ground. The working group oversaw the development of the report ‘Charting a Future Strategy on Traveller Accommodation’ and also organised a national conference on Traveller accommodation.

Travellers and Equality

Many Travellers continued to use the Equal Status Legislation in 2002 highlighting the high level of discrimination experienced by Travellers. It also shows a high level of awareness among Travellers of the law, which is very positive.

Travellers now need to widen their interaction with the legislation and take cases that test the effectiveness of the legislation re: accommodation, education, employment and access to health care.

Despite the fact that a large percentage of the cases taken by Travellers have been won the Vintners Association of Ireland have continued to voice their opposition to Travellers achieving equality before the law. This negative voice coupled with the fact that the Liquor Licensing Commission (which has no Traveller representation or representation from the equality sector) has been given the power to recommend changes to the Equal Status Act. However, we can look forward to the introduction of the Race Directive, which will be implemented in July 2003, as it will strengthen the Equality Legislation.

Travellers and Horses

During 2002, ITM published its report on the impact of the Control of Horses Act on the Traveller Community. The report 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 will continue to work to challenge this legislation through supporting Traveller groups dealing with horses’ issues and supporting Travellers taking cases under the Act.

Media Work

During 2002, ITM continued to engage with the media to promote Traveller issues. This involved engaging in local and national radio and television debates, holding press conferences on important issues, highlighting inequality and discrimination and commenting on government policy through press releases and print media articles.

Nomadism

ITM research into nomadism continued throughout 2002 and will see publication in 2003.

Key Actions for 2003

Review of the 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 ITM will be addressing this issue in its contribution to the review of the legislation due to take place in 2003.

The review will examine the progress to date and it is essential that the failure to tackle the backlog in Traveller accommodation provision be addressed in this context. ITM will be proposing the immediate establishment of an independent Traveller Accommodation Agency with the powers to ensure the delivery of Traveller accommodation.

In addition, ITM are currently pursuing an amendment to section 32 of the Traveller Accommodation Act to ensure that Travellers do not face eviction.

Establishment of the Traveller Legal Unit

The establishment of the legal unit will be a priority for ITM during 2003. ITM will draw up a strategic plan for the unit in consultation with member groups and from this will compile a workplan on the key issues identified.

Travellers and Education

During 2003, ITM will continue to promote an intercultural education system for all. In the coming year ITM will launch its research on the role that Traveller organisations play in education and in the promotion of intercultural education.

As a priority ITM are seeking to employ a full time education worker 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 2003, ITM will also build up its work on education and the membership of the education working group.

ITM Youth Section

Creating awareness and encouraging young Travellers active participation in ITM and in addressing the issues affecting them, remains a key focus. In 2002, ITM worked with young Travellers to develop responses to these issues ensuring that the youth section of ITM was supported; it is now an active and dynamic group. The priorities for 2003 will focus on continuing to develop the participation of young Travellers, supporting youth leaders in engaging young Travellers on issues affecting them and pursuing funding to develop youth work.

The Development of ITM Regional Structures

ITM will develop the regional structures of the organisation in 2003. A national needs assessment will be carried out to ascertain the needs of Traveller groups and how ITM can meet some of these needs more effectively. ITM have been successful in securing resources for this work and will work with Traveller groups over the year to design effective strategies for this project.

Community Advocacy

The Community Advocacy Programme ran a series of training days during 2002, developed in partnership with the Equality Authority. In 2003 a sub-group for community advocacy participants will be established to ensure ongoing support for the programme. The possibility of developing an accredited training programme will also be examined.

Travellers and Health

ITM will develop and circulate a document on health outlining key areas of concern, which will be discussed with our members. ITM representatives will continue to participate on the National Health Advisory Committee and will work to ensure the commitments set out in the National Traveller Health Strategy are delivered on.

Accommodation and Traveller Groups - Participation

ITM has supported and encouraged local Traveller groups to participate on the Local Traveller Accommodation Consultative Committees and provided a range of supports to Traveller groups in engaging with local authorities on accommodation issues. The key focus is to lobby for changes to the National Traveller Accommodation Strategy to ensure that real change is achieved for Travellers.

Resources and Staffing 2002

The main sources of ITM funding are:

The Programme of Support for National Anti-Poverty Networks from the Department of Social Community and Family Affairs through the Combat Poverty Agency. Through this funding we employ an Administrator and Coordinator and pay for office expenses.
The Department of the Environment and Local Government, through which ITM employs a National Accommodation Officer.
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 and a part time information worker.

ITM Staff 2002

Co-ordinator Catherine Joyce
Accommodation Officer David Joyce
Accommodation Worker Grainne O’Toole
Equality Worker Thomas McCann
Policy Support Worker Paul Ginnell
Information Worker Phil Mullen
AdministratorAnne Jennings-Taučienė

ITM Central Group 2002

Nancy Power
Deirdre McCarthy
Murt Flynn
Catherine Joyce
John Paul Collins
Martin Mongan
Mary Connors
Jim O’Brien
Bernadette Comisky
Thomas Erbsloh
Winnie Kerrigan

ITM was successful in securing finding to establish a legal unit, which will enable us to employ a solicitor, community worker and part-time administrator in 2003. ITM also secured funding for a membership development worker who will begin work in 2003. We will continue to seek funding for an education worker and for the development of the ITM youth section.

Appendix 1

Financial Report 2002

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