CountyCavan Traveller Interagency Group

Strategy & Action Plan

January 2011 – June 2012

Cover photo: Traveller Awareness Session in the Library Events Space during Good Relations Week, September 2010 with participants from the Cavan Primary Health Care Team for Travellers.

Photo by Adrian Donohoe

Published by CavanCounty Development Board, November 2010

Under the directorship of:

Mr Ger Finn

Director of Service

Department of Community & Enterprise

Cavan County Council

Courthouse

Cavan

Table of Contents

Membership of Cavan Traveller Interagency Group 2010

Objectives of Cavan Traveller Interagency Group

Overview & Progress of Cavan Traveller Interagency Initiative

Achievements of the Cavan Traveller Interagency Group

Key Challenges faced by the Interagency Group

Demographic Profile

Educational Provision

Co. Cavan VEC – Educational Programmes

Cavan County Council - Services and Community Development

Accommodation Provision

Local Traveller Accommodation Consultative Committee

Community & Enterprise Section, Cavan County Council.

Health Service / Primary Care Provision

Action Plan

Monitoring and Evaluation

Appendix I Press Coverage of Traveller Issues in Cavan

Appendix II Photos of local work with the Traveller Community

Membership of Cavan Traveller Interagency Group 2010

Chairperson

Sean McKiernan – CavanSchool Completion Programme

Convenor

Conor Craven, RAPID Coordinator, Cavan County Council

Sgt. Jim Greene An Garda Síochána

Eimear RyanEducation Coordinator, Breffini Integrated Ltd

Catherine O’ HarteVisiting Teacher, Dept of Education & Skills

Siobhan McEnteeAdult Literacy Organiser, Co. Cavan VEC

Michael GeelanSenior Executive Officer, Cavan County Council

Treasa QuigleyCoordinator, Cavan CountyChildcareCommittee

Siobhan FinneganCommunity Development Officer, FAS

Una TraynorCommunity Development Officer, Breffini Integrated

Richard PhelanSocial Inclusion/Community Dev’t Manager, HSE

Damien WalshMembership Development Officer, Irish Traveller Movement

Bernie McVeighPrincipal, St. Clare’s Primary School, CavanTown

Valerie EverardManager, Extern, Cavan

Bernie BradyCoordinator Teach Oscail FRC Project

Cecilia SmithCavan Citizens Information Service

Gay FannonJob Facilitator, Dept of Social Protection

Marie ReillyYouthreach, CavanTown

Eileen MaughanTraveller Primary Healthcare Project

Kathleen JoyceTraveller Primary Healthcare Project

Ita MaddenExtern, Traveller Primary Healthcare Project

Lisa CollinsTraveller Primary Healthcare Project

Objectives of Cavan Traveller Interagency Group

  • To provide better coordination of delivery of services and supports to Travellers.
  • To identify current service delivery to Travellers
  • To identify and address any gaps or duplication in services or supports
  • To coordinate and integrate service delivery for Travellers in Cavan
  • To work towards improving the quality of life for Travellers by addressing key issues such as housing, education, and training, employment, health, equality and social integration.
  • To provide a forum for Travellers to participate in decision making
  • To report to Cavan County Development Board on progress of the group and strategy.
  • To network and share information.

Overview & Progress of Cavan Traveller Interagency Initiative

The Cavan Traveller Interagency group was established in November 2006 following the recommendation of a High Level Group on Traveller Issues that submitted a report to the Government in March 2006 – which recommended the development of specific Traveller Interagency Initiatives under the remit of City & County Development Boards.

It is worth noting that the High Level Group stated that in order to achieve successful outcomes for Travellers in key areas of health, accommodation, employment and education, that there was a need for institutionalised inter-agency coordination and national and local level.

The first Cavan Traveller Interagency Strategy was adopted by Cavan County Development Board in 2007. Funding was secured from the Department of Justice, Equality & Law Reform to provide training for members of the Cavan Traveller Interagency group on Service Process Improvement for service providers. Sixteen members of the group participated in the training which commenced in January 2008 and was delivered over seven 1 day sessions and covered such areas as:

  • Understanding the experience of traveller service users;
  • Awareness of discrimination;
  • Challenges and working with culture
  • Learning about the target group – Heritage, Culture
  • Approach of each member of group and their respective responsibilities and agreement to work together on these issues.

The key issues facing Travellers as set out in the 2007 plan were as follows:

  • Childcare (affordable community based pre-school/ full day care
  • Educational attainment at primary level / retention at second level
  • Training Opportunities for Traveller Men/Progression to employment;
  • Accommodation;
  • Health Issues and the Participation of Young Travellers in Sport
  • Discrimination
  • Development of representative/Organisation for Cavan Travellers.

Over the past four years, the members of the Cavan Traveller Interagency group have met consistently and shown a high level of commitment to this process. It was noted at a meeting of the Cavan County Development Board in September, 2010 that this process or opportunities to discuss Traveller issues on an Interagency basis did not exist in Cavan prior to November, 2006. Cavan County Development Board is aware that the Traveller Interagency Initiative has created opportunities for co-working and progress between the agencies. Nevertheless, the County Development Board is aware that it has been a slow and difficult process.

Achievements of the Cavan Traveller Interagency Group

  • A Traveller Primary Health Care Initiative was established in 2009.
  • A Community Development Worker has been employed by the Irish Traveller Movement to engage and work with Travellers since 2008.
  • Traveller Newsletters have been produced during 2009/2010.
  • Traveller Homework has been operational for number of years.
  • Cavan County Council has provided sufficient housing to meet the needs of Travellers.
  • Through the work of the Cavan School Completion Programme and educational providers – the number of Traveller Children completing primary level has increased since 2007. The number of children progressing from primary to second level is increasing.
  • Work experience has been secured for some Travellers in Cavan.
  • Travellers in Townspark have actively engaged in the Local Authority Estate Management/Enhancement Initiatives.
  • Traveller Women have participated in Cook IT Programmes run by ITM
  • A cohort of Travellers have recently been become members of the Cavan Traveller Interagency Group.
  • A large number of young Traveller Boys / Girls are members of Cavan Boxing Club.
  • Young Travellers are members of the Urban Backstreet Dance Crew which is coordinated by Cavan Sports Partnership/Tullacmongan Resource Centre and funded through the RAPID Programme.
  • Increasing participation by Travellers in Preschools.

Key Challenges faced by the Interagency Group

  • Lack of Traveller engagement in the process
  • No Traveller Representative group in Co. Cavan
  • Need for prolonged capacity and animation targeted at the Travelling Community.
  • Review of the existing strategy showed some progress in terms of implementation of agreed actions – five of the actions were progressed.
  • Priority actions for Travellers need to form part of individual agency’s service plan/business plans.
  • Lack of Traveller participation in the process has led to frustration amongst the members of the Interagency Group.
  • Very difficult to shape policy and implement actions without the involvement of Travellers.

As part of this new strategy and action plan, the Cavan Traveller Interagency Group will seek to build on the progress achieved to date and address some of the key challenges outlined in this section.

Demographic Profile

The population of CountyCavan as stated in the 2006 Census of Population was 64,003 persons. The total population of Travellers in Cavan was stated as 212. This indicates that the Travelling Community represents 0.34% of Co. Cavan’s population. The national average for the State is 0.5%. Cavan is therefore marginally under the national average.

The 2009 Annual Count of Travellers conducted by the Local Authority indicated that 115 families were living in Co. Cavan. Cross reference with population figures presented in the (2007 Cavan Traveller Interagency Stategy) for the year 2005 noted that 58 Traveller Families were living in the County at that time. Thus over a four year period, the number of Traveller Families living in Co. Cavan has increased by 98.27%.

Of the 115 Traveller families living in Cavan in 2009, the category of accommodation that they were living in was as follows:

  • 50 families were in standard lettings;
  • 23 families were in group housing;
  • 40 were in private rented accommodation
  • 1 family was sharing with a Tenant
  • 1 family was living in a caravan on a private premises.

Educational Provision

Pupil Enrolment

There are two DEIS National Schools in CavanTown i.e. St. Clares National School and St. Felims National School.

The pupil enrolment for St. Clares National School is 513. The school has 74 Traveller Children and this represents 15% of the current pupil enrolment. In 2007, the total pupil enrolment in St. Clares was 410 pupils, with only 28 Traveller Children attending.

The Cavan School Completion Programme was established in Cavan in 2004. It is the main educational school prevention programme in Cavan which seeks to combat early school leaving and encourage young people to remain in the school system. The School Completion Programme works directly with 103 (42 boys and 61 girls) Traveller Children attending St. Clare’s and St. Felix’s National Schools in CavanTown. These children range from 4-13 years of age. Cavan School Completion Programme also works with Traveller Children in BreffniCollege.

Co. Cavan VEC – Educational Programmes

Co. Cavan Vocational Education Committee is an educational authority which provides a comprehensive range of full-time, part-time education, training and support services. It aims to provide education for life in an innovative, responsive, caring and flexible learning environment.

It is committed to providing the maximum access to persons of all ages and backgrounds and to achieving quality and excellence in all aspects of their work. It does this through their own schools, Cavan Institute, learning centres and in conjunction with other providers of education and training in Cavan to meet the changing technological, economic, social and cultural needs of the community.

County Cavan VEC provides services to a diverse population featuring a variety of age cohorts and social strata and a number of indigenous and ethnic minorities.

The services offered by Co Cavan VEC ensure that social inclusion issues and flexibility is built into their programmes in terms of scheduling to try to facilitate all learners.

As much of their target group experience some form of disadvantage access to and participation in education/training initiatives is borne in mind when provision is being planned.

Adult Education Provision encompasses the following:

Vocational Training Opportunities Scheme: V.T.O.S. was introduced in 1989 as a key response to growing unemployment. It provides free, full-time second-chance education and training opportunities for people over 21 years of age who are unemployed for a minimum of six months. County Cavan V.E.C. has been providing a V.T.O.S. programme since 1989. Numbers have been frozen at 40 in spite of demand.

Adult Basic Education: Their Adult Literacy service has expanded rapidly over the years and has identified and responded to educational needs of adults for whom there is no other educational provision. There is a full-time Adult Learning Centre in Cavan town with courses being delivered in resource and community centres throughout the county. In the course of 2009/2010, over 760 people availed of basic education programmes including literacy and numeracy support and training through a range of settings, including one-to-one tuition.

Basic Education provision in the county spans a number of areas including Work-Based Education and Family Learning. Their basic education programmes provide clearly defined routes of progression from beginners’ level through to accredited courses such as FETAC, Junior Certificate and Leaving Certificate. The VEC ensure that particular attention is given to the needs of disadvantaged learners. Co Cavan VEC is proud of their track record of excellence and innovation in a programme area, which is a major link in the chain of lifelong learning.

Back to Education Initiative (BTEI): The BTEI initiative builds on existing service provision and provides for an expansion of part-time, flexible options across Further Education so that participants can combine a return to learning with other commitments, for example, work or family. The priority target groups are adults and early school leavers with less than upper second level education.

Primary Health Care: The Primary Health Care Programme aims to provide flexible training opportunities for Travellers throughout CountyCavan in order to raise their competency levels in all areas of their lives. The programme further aims to educate, empower, encourage and motivate participants to access training and employment experiences in as safe, supportive environment designed specifically to meet individual needs.

Community Education: County Cavan VEC is committed to community education as a way of reaching large numbers of participants, particularly those who experience disadvantage. The V.E.C also works with community organisations in providing community education programmes and appreciates the role such organisations play in fostering community development and social inclusion. County Cavan VEC recognises that community based courses are often the first step towards further options and choices for the adult learner.

Additional County Cavan VEC Centres that work directly with groups experiencing disadvantage include three Youthreach Centres and a Prison Education Centre. The activities in these centres directly target, often at a preventative level, the inequalities these groups may experience.

Co. Cavan VEC Secondary Schools

BreffiniCollegein CavanTownhas 35 Travellers currently enrolled in their secondary school. One Traveller who completed the Junior Certificate in 2010 is now engaged in part-time employment.

Four Travellers are enrolled in St. Bricins Secondary School, Belturbet.

There are currently no Traveller Children enrolled in St. Mogues, Bawnboy and VirginiaCollege.

Department of Education Statistics – 2009

Data obtained from the DES for 2009 indicate the following pupil enrolments:

Bailieborough

25 Traveller Children attending at Primary Level

9 Traveller Children attending at Post Primary Level

Cootehill

13 Traveller Children attending at Primary Level

11 Traveller Children attending at Post-Primary Level

Belturbet

Five Traveller Children attending at Primary Level.

Traveller Homework Club

Breffini Integratedcoordinate the provision of a Homework Club in Townspark Housing Estate, CavanTown which currently caters for 36 Traveller children. It runs from Monday – Thursday during the school year. This homework Club was established in the late 1990s and is funded under the Office of Minister for Children & Youth Affairs.

In July 2010, Cavan School Completion Programme and Breffini Integrated ran a one week summer camp for Traveller Children between the ages of 4 -16 years of age. Sixty seven Traveller Children participated in this years Summer Camp.

The Cavan Early Years Centre (Preschool) – CavanTown can cater for a maximum of 14 children at any one time.

Youthreach

There are three Youthreach Centres in Co. Cavan which are under the administrative control of Co. Cavan VEC. The centres are located in the following areas:

CavanTown

Fifteen Young Travellers are currently undertaking FETAC Level 3/4 Courses.

Kingscourt

Three Travellers are undertaking FETAC Level 3 Courses.

Cootehill.

Six Travellers are pursuing FETAC Level 3 Courses.

Cavan Boxing Club

Currently 50 young Travellers are members of Cavan Boxing Club which is located in CavanTown. The total membership of the club is over 100 members.

Cavan County Council - Services and Community Development

In this section we outline the role of Cavan County Council in relation to accommodation provision, social inclusion/good relations work and Community and Enterprise.

Accommodation Provision

Cavan County Council under the provisions of the Housing (Traveller) Accommodation Act 1998 has prepared and adopted a new Traveller Accommodation Programme for the period 1st of January, 2009 – 31st of December 2013.

The provisions of the Act

  • Require relevant housing authorities in consultation with Travellers, to prepare and adopt an accommodation programme to meet the existing and projected accommodation needs of Travellers in their areas.
  • Allow for public input to the preparation and amendment of such programmes.
  • Oblige relevant Housing Authorities to take appropriate steps to secure implementation of programmed and
  • Require Planning Authorities to include objectives concerning Traveller Accommodation in the County/Town Development Plans.

Local Traveller Accommodation Consultative Committee

Under Section 21 and 22 of the Act, the Local Traveller Accommodation Consultative Committees has been established to facilitate consultation between housing authorities and Travellers and to advise on any aspect of accommodation for Travellers. Its membership is outlined in Appendix one.

Cavan County Council and Cavan Town Council are the implementing Authorities for the Accommodation Programme. Cavan County Council will have overall responsibility for the implementation of the Programme in its functional area which will include Cavan Town Council, Cootehill Town Council and Belturbet Town Council.

Means of Providing Accommodation

The availability of Local Authority land where possible for the delivery of this programme will be utilised with the acquisition of some further additional sites /dwellings where possible.

The Local Authority provision will come in the form of

  • Standard Local Authority Housing
  • Traveller Specific Accommodation
  • Assistance in Voluntary Housing

The Rental Accommodation Scheme (RAS) provides Local Authorities with an additional option for Travellers with long term housing needs and will be considered by the Council as a housing option in consultation with Travellers.

Assistance towards Private Accommodation

The Social Housing options will be used, where possible to assist Travellers to provide accommodation under:

  • Affordable Housing
  • Shared Ownership
  • Annuity Loans
  • Caravan Loans
  • Grants.

The Traveller Accommodation Programme 2009-2013 proposes the following local authority accommodation units during the lifetime of the programme.

Year / Location / No of Families / Type of Housing
2009 / Cavan / 3 / Standard Housing
Bailieboro / 2 / Standard Housing
2010 / Cavan / 3 / Standard Housing
Bailieboro / 1 / Standard Housing
2011 / Cavan / 3 / Standard Housing
Cootehill / 2 / Standard Housing
Bailieboro / 1 / Standard Housing
2012 / Cavan / 4 / Standard Housing
Bailieboro / 1 / Standard Housing
Other / 3 / Standard Housing
2013 / Cavan / 4 / Standard Housing
Cootehill / 1 / Standard Housing
Bailieboro / 2 / Standard Housing
2009-2013 / Total / 30

Community & Enterprise Section, Cavan County Council.

Since June 2008, the local authority has had a service level agreement with the Irish Traveller Movement, through which a Community Development Worker has been employed. Funding for this position was initially secured through FAS, Cavan County Enterprise Board, HSE, Cavan County Council and Breffini Integrated. During 2009/2010, the Local Authority provided office space for the Irish Traveller Movement in the Bridge Street Centre in CavanTown. Cavan County Council has provided further funding to maintain the Community Development Worker Post until November 2011, with funding also being provided by the HSE and Breffini Integrated LTD.