What does Ethnic Recognition mean for Irish Travellers?

Ethnicity means belonging to a social group that has a common national or cultural tradition, ethnicity is not the same as nationality or place of birth. Your ethnicity or cultural background means the group you descended from.

The new rate of pensions and weekly social welfare increases announced in Budget 2017 will start to come into effect from this week onwards, with all higher payments in place by St Patrick’s Day. The maximum personal rate of pension will increase by €5 per week for 578,000 pensioners aged 66 and over from this week.

Taoiseach Enda Kenny T.D, noted the historic and symbolic recognition of Travellers as an ethnic group in his address to the Dáil on March 1st 2017.

At approximately 6.45 pm he announced,

Our first 2017 editions of National Traveller MABS Newsletter and The Thaire Times is now available for you to read, both our issues are bursting with news and information from around the country!

Education is integral to combating financial exclusion. In December, National Traveller MABS co-hosted a seminar with the Irish Traveller Movement (ITM) entitled “Engaging Traveller Men”. Over 80 people, representing the 4 provinces of Ireland were in attendance.

National Traveller MABS are pleased to announce our latest publication. The report "It's All About Education" written by Dermot Sreenan, explores the barriers that prevent many Traveller men from engaging in Community Education.

Several of the changes announced in Budget 2017 took effect from 1 January 2017, including changes to the Universal Social Charge. Some of the changes announced in the Budget come into effect immediately.

There was much welcome with the announcement in Budget 2017 of the increase in this years Christmas bonus.

A bereavement is one of the worst things a family will endure. Sometimes making advanced arrangements can comfort a very ill person as they will have a sense of peace knowing that arrangements are financially and legally in place.

Rents are rising in double digits and are now higher than at the height of the Celtic Tiger, with “disastrous” consequences for renters, communities, and the country’s competitiveness.

The eight annual Exchange House Educational Achievement Awards took place in The Venue, in Dublin City Council on Friday the 14th October. The Exchange House National Educational Achievement Awards are presented to Travellers who have recently completed the Junior Certificate, Leaving Certificate, GCSE, A-Level examinations or Third Level Courses.

Budget 2017 was announced today, October 11th 2016.

Overall National Traveller MABS welcomes the increased funding for Traveller accommodation and the additional resources that are to be invested in homelessness, healthcare and education. However we are very disappointed that there has not been a targeted approach in tackling both the causes and impacts of homelessness and the failure to date in providing appropriate Traveller specific accommodation.

Budget 2017 was announced today, October 11th 2016.

To help you identify how Budget 2017 may impact on you, National Traveller MABS have summarised some of the changes below. Some of the changes come into effect immediately. Others take effect in 2017.

Our annual report 2015 is now available for you to read. Last year was a big year for us as we celebrated our 10th anniversary along with launching a media campaign to promote youth savings. Please click here to read more.

National Traveller MABS welcomes the audit into fire safety in Traveller specific accommodation entitled, ‘Report on Programme to Review and Enhance Fire Safety in Local Authority Provided Traveller Accommodation’. Published on September 22nd 2016, the review was carried out by the National Directorate for Fire and Emergency Management (NDFEM).

National Traveller MABS welcomes the government initiative to address the lack of access to affordable loans for social welfare recipients. The "It Makes Sense loans" have been available in 30 credit unions, on a pilot basis but are now being rolled our nationally and will, it is hoped be available in all credit unions in Ireland.

The key elements of our 2017 pre-budget submission aim to alleviate the difficulty that Travellers have in securing safe and habitable accommodation. We prioritise three specific areas that we call on the relevant government departments to consider: Traveller Specific Accommodation, Ethnic Recognition and Access to Affordable Savings and Credit To read more on this please click here.

Our latest editions of both The Thaire Times and National Traveller MABS Newsletter are now available for you to read. Both these issues are bursting with information as we take you with us on our recent events, campaigns and also the reports that we produced in 2016. Please visit our Facebook and Twitter page for regular updates and fresh news!!

Travellers, like everyone, need to have access to affordable credit. Affordable loans are an important tool in ensuring that people do not end up in spiralling debt. We at National Traveller MABS are actively encouraging young Travellers to save in our Get Saving Campaign.

The European Committee of Social Rights has found Ireland to be in breachin practice and in legislation of Traveller's housing, accommodation and eviction rights.