ITM eBulletin February 2018

Job Opportunities
Peppers Court, James Fintan Lalor Avenue, Portlaoise, Co. Laois. 057 8682210

Community Development Worker & Horse Project Facilitator for Men’s Programme
Laois Travellers Action Group (LTAG) was founded in 1996 under the name Laois Travellers Views to work for the equal rights of Travellers living in the county. LTAG is looking to implement a Men’s Health Plan aiming at achieving equality of access and outcome in health, education and employment for Traveller Men, through capacity building that will increase the level of engagement, participation and self-determination of Traveller Men.

Men’s Programme (19 hours per week)
The purpose of the post will be:

• To implement Laois Travellers Action Group Men’s Health Programme through the areas of health, sports, and capacity building in coordination with LTAG staff and in line with LTAG’s overall work-plan.
• To outreach and consult with Traveller Men and other stakeholders.
• To develop a programme of activities based on Traveller Men needs and interests.
• To ensure equal access and representation to all Traveller Men living in county Laois.
• To work in partnership with statutory agencies promoting the understanding of factors affecting Traveller Men.

The successful applicant will be required to have:

• A thorough understanding of Traveller issues, particularly in relation to Traveller Men and Traveller Men’s health.
• Three years of community development experience
• Excellent communication, facilitation and interpersonal skills
• A demonstrable understanding of community development approaches
• Commitment to human rights and social justice and to work from an anti-racist perspective
• Demonstrable capacity to work on own initiative and as part of a team
• Ability to work with a wide range or stakeholders
• Access to own transport with a full driving license

Horse Project Facilitator (7 hours per week)
The successful applicant will be required to have:

• Skills and experience in relation to horse care and management
• Thorough understanding of Traveller issues, particularly in relation to Traveller Men and Traveller Men’s health.
• Excellent communication, facilitation and interpersonal skills
• A demonstrable understanding of community development approaches
• Commitment to human rights and social justice and to work from an anti-racist work perspective
• Demonstrable capacity to work on own initiative and as part of a team
• Knowledge and ability to work with a wide range or stakeholders
• Access to own transport with a full driving license

Qualifications Required:
A qualification and/or a minimum of three years relevant experience is essential.
A qualification in a related discipline (Community Development, Adult Education, Equine Science, Equine Studies, BHS) qualifications, is desirable.

Please submit a Curriculum Vitae and a detailed cover letter outlining qualifications, experience and skills specific to the position to The Manager, LTAG, Peppers Court, James Fintan Lawlor Avenue, Portlaoise, Co. Laois or via email at: laoistravellers@gmail.com by 2nd March by 5.00pm. This post is funded by the HSE.
Informal enquires or to request a job description please contact Annette Long, TEL: 057 8682210.
Laois Travellers Action Group is an equal opportunities employer.

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Traveller Counselling Service recruiting CD Worker
www.activelink.ie/content/vacancies/community/35356

Updates from the Irish Traveller Movement
The Yellow Flag has been very dependent on our member organisations over the years since the programme was first piloted in 2008. Part of the Yellow Flag’s success has been derived from the support that local Traveller organisations provide to Yellow Flag schools as they undertake their steps, and afterward. For many schools, this is the first time they engage with a local Traveller organisation and it really helps to build their insight into Traveller culture and supports them to positively recognise their Traveller students’ cultural identity. We are grateful to our members for the work they do locally to promote and support the Yellow Flag and ask you to continue to respond to Yellow Flag schools’ request for inputs or information. The following is a list of schools currently working towards their

Yellow Flag by area:
Yellow Flag needs you!

South Dublin

• St Tiernan’s Community School, Ballally
• St Aidan’s SNS, Tallaght
• Our Lady’s NS, Clonskeagh
• Ballinteer Community School, Dublin 16
• St Mary’s PS, Saggart

Dublin City

• St. Catherine’s SNS, Cabra
• Our Lady of Lourdes NS, Inchicore
• Our Lady of Good Counsel, Drimnagh
• Griffith Barracks Multi Denominational School, Dublin 8

North Dublin

• Skerries Community College
• Holywell ETNS, Swords
• Castleknock Community College
• St. Joseph’s Secondary School, Rush
• Tyrellstown ETNS, Dublin 15

Galway Merlin College, Galway Louth St Oliver’s Community College, Drogheda Kerry St Brigid’s Presentation Secondary School, Killarney Coláiste na Ríochta, Listowel Wicklow St Patrick’s NS, Wicklow Town Dominican College, Wicklow Town Clare Holy Family JNS, Ennis, Holy Family SNS, Ennis

As part of the Yellow Flag’s 8 steps, schools are required to engage their whole staff team in intercultural anti-racism training. The Yellow Flag currently has a number of experienced trainers but with the support of IHREC will expand this panel around the country, specifically targeting trainers who are themselves Travellers and from other minority ethnic groups. As part of this project, ITM will conduct workshops in 3 regions from March 2018 to be followed by a 2 day training programme, based on IHREC/ITM’S Intercultural Training for Yellow Flag Schools.

Details of workshops will be announced in March.

Accommodation Updates
please find attached Draw down vs Allocation for 2017 which was highlighted in recent Irish Times Article.

Upcoming ITM Events
Invite you to join us for a Major Celebration

Marking the First Anniversary of State Acknowledgement of Traveller Ethnicity

March 1st 2018 10.00am – 6pm – The Royal Hospital, Kilmainham, Dublin.

This celebration day draws together essential elements of Travellers’ rich culture and heritage, including music, craft traditions and language and showcases community assets through its creative traditions in photography, genealogy and social history collections of the National Museum of Country Life, the National Folklore Collection UCD and the National Library of Ireland.

A look back at the Traveller Pride Awards, hosted by Anne Cassin and featuring former winners will be the opening event at 10am but is not advertised to the public, so please RSVP as soon as you can to secure a place at the Awards to pat@montaguecomms.ie

The full programme is available at www.ethnicitycelebration.ie

Minister of State David Stanton, TD will officially open the event, which is non ticketed, open to all and we invite you to share.

Full programme here

Policy Updates
Parliamentary Questions

February 7th
*304. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the amount of funding allocated and drawn down by all local authorities for Traveller accommodation in 2017, in tabular form. — Eoin Ó Broin. [6169/18]

January 31st
88. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the progress being made in Cork city in accommodating 55 travelling persons in emergency accommodation arising from the damage done to their dwellings during Storm Ophelia; and if he will make a statement on the matter. — Mick Barry. [4555/18]
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National Roma Integration Strategies up to 2020 has been published the preliminary findings resulting from the public consultation on the EU Framework for National Roma Integration Strategies up to 2020 has been published. The consultation ran from 19 July 2017 to 25 October 2017 and gathered 240 replies. The summary report takes stock of the contributions received and gives an overview of the opinions expressed by the respondents. You can find the summary report under this link:
Public Consultation on the Evaluation of the EU Framework for National Roma Integration Strategies up to 2020

In the media

Kildare Co Co non spend of Traveller accommodation budget
http://kfmradio.com/news/11022018-1229/kcc-used-none-its-allotted-budget-traveller-accommodation

Limerick Council move to evict family
https://www.limerickleader.ie/news/crime-and-courts/296404/limerick-travellers-trespassing-on-council-owned-lands-ordered-to-move.html

Senator Trevor Ó Clochartaigh highlights treatment of Travellers in Galway in accommodation
https://www.galwaydaily.com/news/galway-senator-hit-council-treatment-travellers/

Cork Traveller Women’s Network – move to Triskel Arts
http://www.eveningecho.ie/corknews/Triskel-and-the-Cork-Traveller-network-unite-1892dd4f-8035-4560-828b-677f4080ae7d-ds

Galway County Council non – spend Traveller accommodation budget
http://connachttribune.ie/county-council-fails-to-spend-fund-for-traveller-accommodation/

Two testimonial interviews Travellers Roscommon and living conditions
https://www.shannonside.ie/news/local/roscommon/podcast-roscommon-travellers-speak-disgraceful-accommodation/

Information Sharing

National Traveller Mental Health Network Survey February 2018

Background
The aim of this short survey is to give the steering group of the mental health network and the wider network an indication of the key issues effecting Travellers in local areas and how these could best be addressed. Please feel free to add extra pages if needed. We would be grateful if you could reply to this as soon as possible. The results will be written up and sent out to all Traveller groups.

Questions
What are the key issues regarding Traveller mental health in your area?

1. How do you think these issues could be to be addressed?
2. Do you have a mental health development worker in your organisation?
3. How could the National Traveller Mental Network support you to address this issue?
4. Please return the questionnaire no later than Monday 5th March by email travcounselling@hotmail.com

Thank you, on behalf of the National Traveller Mental Health Network,

Bus Éireann Apprentice Programme 2018. Bus Éireann, the national bus and coach company and Dublin Bus, which operates bus services in the greater Dublin Area are now seeking to recruit Traveller apprentice heavy vehicle mechanics in the following locations:
Dublin Cork Waterford Rosslare Stranorlar Ballina Limerick Thurles Tralee Galway Athlone Longford

These apprenticeship positions are open to both female and male candidates. Our apprentices are trained to the highest possible technical standards and acquire, amongst many other skills, the ability to maintain the various systems associated with modern public service vehicles. This includes training on the various day to day repairs and preventative maintenance tasks, in addition to vehicle diagnostics/fault finding with some of the most advanced systems of its kind in place. Our apprentices have had much success in the National Skills Competition over the years.
An apprenticeship comprises seven phases, three off-the-job and four on-the job. During all of these phases you are assessed on a structured ongoing basis.

On-the-job training takes place with Bus Éireann/Dublin Bus during Phases 1 – 3 – 5 – 7.
Off-the-job training is designated by SOLAS as follows:-

• Phase 2: SOLAS Education and Training Board (ETB) Training Centre
  in Dublin, Cork or Waterford
• Phase 4: Department of Education and Skills – Athlone or Dublin IT
• Phase 6: Department of Education and Skills – Athlone or Dublin IT

During your apprenticeship you will be trained for a category D driving licence.

Educational Qualifications:
Candidates must have obtained the following minimum standards at the time of applying.

Grade C or higher at Ordinary Level in the Junior Certificate (or equivalent) in one sitting in the following subjects:

1. Irish or English
2. Mathematics
3. Science Subject (Technology, Art, Craft & Design, Technical Graphics, Materials Technology (Wood), Home Economics or Metalwork).

Any two other subjects

(Grade D or higher on higher level papers is acceptable).
OR Grade D or higher at Ordinary Level in the Leaving Certificate (or equivalent) in one sitting in the following subjects:
The closing date for submitting an application is 1st April, 2018. Placements will commence in Autumn 2018 and applicants must be at least 16 years of age, on or before the 1st August, 2018. Each candidate will be required to undertake aptitude tests and the results will be used to compile a shortlist for interview purposes.
Applications must be made online to Bus Éireann Apprentice Programme 2018.

National Traveller MABS

The Traveller Ethnicity Celebration 1st March 2018
Traveller Ethnicity Celebration is non ticketed and open event to celebration draws together essential elements of Travellers’ rich culture and heritage including music, craft traditions and language. It will also showcase community through its creative traditions in photography, genealogy and social history collections of the National Museum of Country Life, the National Folklore Collection UCD and the National Library of Ireland.
More Detail

All Weekly Social Welfare Payments to Increase by a Fiver From March
The increase will kick in during the last week of March 2018 and will impact people in receipt of payments such as the Jobseeker’s Allowance, Disability Allowance, Carer’s Allowance and the State Pension.
More Detail

Stick to Your Savings Goals
WE all have good intentions at the start of the year, it can be hard to make New Year’s resolutions stick. Often January is an opportunity to take a look at our finances and set money goals for the year.
More Detail

Bursary Fund available for Travellers and Roma in 1st Year University
The 1916 Bursary Fund is a targeted funding scheme established by the Department of Education and Skills to support implementation of the National Plan for Equity of Access to Higher Education 2015-2019. The National Access Plan is working to increase the numbers of students who are currently underrepresented in higher education.

This funding is being provided to underline the Government’s commitment to the type of equality of opportunity envisaged by the 1916 signatories.

What Higher Education Institutions will be awarding 1916 Bursaries?
All of the higher education institutions are awarding the Bursaries as regional clusters. The MEND cluster is made up of four higher education institutions – Athlone Institute of Technology, Dundalk Institute of Technology, Dublin City University and Maynooth University. The MEND cluster have a total of 40 bursaries available to award to students attending these higher education institutions
More Detail

Bus Éireann Apprentice Programme 2018
Bus Éireann, the national bus and coach company and Dublin Bus, which operates bus services in the greater Dublin Area are now seeking to recruit Traveller apprentice heavy vehicle mechanics in the following locations:
Dublin Cork Waterford Rosslare Stranorlar, Ballina, Limerick, Thurles, Tralee, Galway, Athlone, and Longford.
More Detail

Use the ITM Bulletin to Get Your Message Across

All ITM members who wish to circulate positions available and upcoming events etc can send information to be circulated to the membership.

Please send details and information to info@itmtrav.ie