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Traveller Pride Week is here!
The two-week long celebration kicked off on Tuesday 12th July with the Traveller Pride Awards held in the Lighthouse cinema in Dublin. It was a fantastic event and thoroughly enjoyed by all in attendance.
There are over 30 events taking place across the country to celebrate Traveller culture, identity, creativity, achievements, and community. Find details on all the events HERE
Make sure you follow all the action and events of the Traveller Pride Week Facebook page
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ITM AGM and Conference - 13th October, Shamrock Lodge Hotel, Athlone
We will begin registration very soon for the ITM AGM and Conference.
Please ensure you have booked accommodation in advance. We would advise doing this as soon as possible to avoid disappointment.
Accommodation options:
- Shamrock Lodge hotel
- Prince of Wales
- the Sheraton Athlone
- Radisson Blu hotel Athlone
Upcoming Training for ITM members
ITM and its members are availing of training opportunities thanks to funding received from The Wheel Training Links fund. The training being offered, both online and in person, is designed to suit the needs identified by members
Some of the upcoming training includes:
- Education advocacy training - 13th September - IN PERSON (Dublin), delivered by Community Law and Mediation - this training is being delivered to members of our education working group (limited places remaining, email eve@itmtrav.ie)
- Trauma-Informed Practice - 2nd and 9th November - ONLINE - delivered by Quality Matters
- Housing and Homeless Law training - Date TBC - delivered by Community Law and Mediation
- GDPR and managing people's information - ONLINE - date TBC
- Plain English training - January 2023 - delivered by NALA
If you want more information on any of the training, if you would like to sign up, or if you have ideas of other training or workshops that would be valuable, email Eve eve@itmtrav.ie
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Dublin LGBT+ PRIDE
ITM were delighted to march in solidarity and support of LGBT+ Travellers at Dublin PRIDE on 25th June. We are proud members of the LGBT+ Traveller and Roma Rights Action Group and will continue to work to ensure our LGBT+ community are safe, accepted, supported and equal.
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Meeting with Peter Burke, Junior Minister with Responsibility for Traveller Accommodation
On the 29th of June we met with Mr Peter Burke, we highlighted several issues including:
- the Traveller families who have not received the electricity rebate due to not having their own domestic account
- we asked for more site visits by the Minister across the year
- we discussed next steps towards repealing the criminal trespass legislation and the development of a national Traveller accommodation authority
Expert Review Programme Board Update
- 6 of the 32 recommendations of the Expert Review have been completed in full, including the recent introduction of a Traveller identifier question in the Social Housing Needs Assessment to fully capture level of need and the local authorities' response. Full progress report available here
- Terms of reference have been drawn up and agreed by the Housing Agency for review of Design and Management and Maintenance Guidelines for Traveller accommodation.
- National Traveller Accommodation Authority - a process is underway and a draft paper will be developed on what this process will look like and this will be sent to us in mid-September for review and our feedback.
- Planning and Chief Executive Powers - legal advice has been sought by the Traveller Accommodation Support Unit and they will share a draft letter and summary. FLAC Traveller Legal Service is drafting legislation on Part 8 and other planning recommendations and have received independent legal advice from counsel (barristers),
- Subgroup has been established for the review of eviction procedures and a data subgroup will be formed in coming weeks
NTACC Updates
- The circular on the Midterm Review has now been issued to local authorities. ITM is applying for funding for additional independent monitoring of the reviews and the Traveller Accommodation Programmes.
- The national Traveller organisations have been invited to be members of a subgroup of National Homeless Action Committee on child and family homelessness
- The NTACC has compiled a fire safety report based on information received from all local authorities. The national organisations are reviewing this report at present.
- The Traveller Accommodation Unit intends to roll out the new caravan loan scheme nationally, with a review at the end of 2022. The national Traveller organisations have raised the ongoing concerns with the scheme including; availability of suitable trailers, cost of residential standard trailers and difficulties accessing insurance.
Next Accommodation Working Group: 28th of July at 11am on Zoom, we would love to have you there!
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Save the Date:
Accommodation Working Group Campaign Strategy Day with Uplift
8th of September from 10.30-3.30, Dublin (venue to be announced)
We would love to have all AWG members there on the day and it will be wonderful to see you all in person. More details to follow!
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Education Advocacy Training - 13th September
Our Education Working Group will engage in education advocacy training delivered by Community Law and Mediation, on 13th September in the Ashling hotel in Dublin. There are still a few places available on this training, email eve@itmtrav.ie if you are interested (travel costs can be reimbursed).
Education Working Group
Our next meeting will be on 13th September in the Ashling hotel in Dublin. This will take place after our morning training with CLM. New members to the working group are always welcome, for more information email membership@itmtrav.ie
Education policy updates
ITM is represented on NTRIS Education subcommittee and drives policy priorities and asks in this space and through political routes via the Traveller Oireachtas Group.
- A Traveller Edcuation Strategy will be developed, the process for this beginning at the end of this year, as indicated by the Department of Education and the Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science
- The NTRIS pilot projects are due to be independently evaluated and this is due to begin in September. The 4 pilots extended by a further 2 years until June 2024.
- We are waiting for the Department of Education to publish data in relation to the numbers of Travellers enrolled in primary and post-primary, and the numbers of Travellers on a reduced school day (reduced timetable).
- Information of the distribution of Dormant Accounts funding to be allocated to Travellers and Roma in education (as per Dormant Accounts Action Plan 2022) is pending and we are following up on this
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Traveller youth work mapping exercise
The youth team are carrying out a mapping exercise which will be circulated to all Traveller specific and mainstream organisations working with Traveller young people along with our members in order to identify the gaps and best practice in youth work happening with young Travellers across the country. The youth team will be working on collecting this information over the next few months and would greatly appreciate your assistance in this vital piece of work which will inform our work going forward. They will be in touch very soon. You can contact Rosemarie rosemarie@itmtrav.ie or Karen karen@itmtrav.ie
Young People’s Committee - NYCI
NYCI's Youth2030: Global Youth Work programme is accepting applications for this year’s Young People’s Committee! It is for young people (aged 16-25) that could have a real, positive impact on tackling global justice issues. Do you know someone that would be interested? The Young People’s Committee wants to hear from you. More information here
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Political Advocacy and Policy
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The Irish Travellers’ Access to Justice (ITAJ) report
The Irish Travellers’ Access to Justice (ITAJ) report by the research team at University of Limerick was officially launched on 23rd June. ITM was represented on the steering committee for the research which is the first of its kind to examine the relationship between Travellers and the Irish criminal justice system.
The research findings reflect a need for radical changes in the way in which criminal justice institutions engage with, perceive, and address Travellers. The report is available HERE
Ireland review by the UN Human Rights Committee on the ICCPR
The Irish state was reviewed by the UN Human Rights Committee to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights on 4th/5th of July in Geneva.
ITM made a submission toward the review and Bernard Joyce addressed the committee at the opening session for Irish NGOs and human rights body, IHREC, in a closed meeting in advance of the State's engagement with the Committee led by Minister O'Gorman and a delegation of officials.
The Human Rights Committee issued a press release providing a detailed overview of the two-day examination of the State, including questions to the State and the responses of the State.
Despite limited traction for Travellers, we were happy that a matter raised by ITM after the first session was raised by the Committee to the State, in view of Traveller inclusion in political democracy. There was also various matters raised in relation to Travellers in prison.
ITM followed up with the Committee after both examination sessions via the NGO in Geneva who liaises with the Committee Members for Civil Society, by providing summary information and a short set of recommendations towards the Committee's final report on July 20th.
Progressive Realisation for Travellers of Budget 2023
ITM recently developed a pre budget 2023 paper for Travellers. In developing these positions we will be working for traction across each of the themes for inclusion in each Department's budget. Have a read of the submission HERE |
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We're recruiting!
ITM is currently recruiting for the position of National Coordinator for the Yellow Flag Programme. This is a full-time role for a dynamic, motivated and skillful person to oversee and coordinate the Yellow Flag Programme.
Closing date for all applications is 26th July 2022, at 5pm, and interviews held on 28th/29th July 2022.
More details and how to apply HERE
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Call for Participation: ‘Irish Travellers/ Mincéirs and the State,1922-2022: the Struggle for Equality’
A major 2-day in person conference will take place on 16th-17th September, organised by NUI Galway and Traveller activists and allies. This conference will have many speakers and contributors, and it will examine Travellers' experiences of discrimination and exclusion since 1922.
Organizers are seeking contributions or proposals in all formats i..e stories, folklore, personal reflections, academic papers, songs, drama, film etc.
The closing date for proposals has been extended until the 18th of July.
More information HERE
Traveller Peer Suicide Bereavement Group
HUGG is a peer support organisation that provides a safe, confidential environment in which those bereaved by suicide can share their experiences and feelings.
There are efforts being made to set up a Traveller specific Bereavement group to support those in the community that have been affected by Suicide. As part of setting up a group like this, a number of people need to be trained in peer bereavement facilitation.
Contact John Paul Collins if you are interested in getting involved johnpaul.collins@exchangehouse.ie
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National Coordinator Yellow Flag Programme
Irish Traveller Movement
Deadline:
More information HERE
Further Education & Training Community Worker
Pavee Point Traveller and Roma Centre
Deadline: 18th July
For further information or queries contact Laura Pohjolainen, email: laura.pohjolainen@pavee.ie or Tel: 087 744 5247
Traveller Women's Awareness Worker
Galway Traveller Movement & Pavee Point Traveller and Roma Centre
Deadline: 25 July
More information HERE
Manager for Kildare Traveller Action CLG
County Kildare LEADER Partnership
Deadline: 26th July at 5pm
More information HERE
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