Written Answers Nos. 446-454
446. Deputy Dessie Ellis asked the Minister for Health when additional funding will be provided for the expansion of mental health services for the delivery of peer-led Traveller specific mental health supports through Traveller primary health care projects, including local Traveller specific initiatives providing timely and appropriate interventions in a mental health crisis; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [23106/26]
View answer449. Deputy Dessie Ellis asked the Minister for Health her plans to provide dedicated funding to train peer support outreach workers from the Traveller community working with young members of the Traveller community who are vulnerable to suicide; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [23109/26]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 446 and 449 together.
Travellers are noted as priority groups in both Ireland’s national mental health policy, Sharing the Vision and the suicide reduction strategy, Connecting for Life. Both policies recognise the vulnerability to and increased risk of mental health difficulties and suicidal behaviour of Travellers, and that these should be taken into consideration in the development and delivery of mental health services to Travellers. The Government's ongoing investment in mental health services continues to support the reform and enhancement of mental health services in Ireland through these policies.
Government policy relating to supporting Traveller and Roma communities is currently outlined in the National Traveller and Roma Inclusion Strategy (NTRIS). The strategy is a cross-departmental initiative and contains a set of specific actions aimed at improving the situation for Traveller and Roma communities in Ireland including mental health.
In addition, the HSE’s National Traveller Health Action Plan (NTHAP, 2022-2027) provides a roadmap for improving health experiences and outcomes for Travellers.
I have made significant additional funding for culturally appropriate Mental Health supports available for Travellers as follows,
2025 Funding – Total funding for Traveller Mental Health
|
Initiative |
€ |
|
National Traveller Counselling Service (Exchange House) |
330,000 |
|
Traveller mental health coordinators (WTE x9) |
495,000 |
|
Offaly Traveller Movement |
157,296 |
|
Sligo Traveller Support Group CLG |
55,030 |
|
Meath Travellers Workshops GLG |
28,571 |
|
Galway Traveller Movement Company Limited by Guarantee |
12,600 |
|
Laois Traveller Action Group |
7,550 |
|
Offaly Traveller Movement |
157,296 |
|
Mental Health Actions within the National Traveller Health Action Plan |
290,000 |
|
Traveller Youth MH - Youth work and counselling/psychotherapy |
370,000 |
|
Culturally appropriate supports for Travellers: Suicide Bereavement Liaison Service and NCP for Self-Harm and Suicide Related Ideation: |
365,000 |
|
Total for 2025 |
2,268,343 |
2026
An additional €480,000 is allocated by Minister Butler to support Traveller Mental Health initiatives in 2026. These initiatives include co-created Traveller/Roma Led Mental health projects aligned to relevant strategies and action plans, support for the work of the Traveller Mental Health Network, Criminal Justice System Peer Support, Mental Health First Aid, peer navigator, bespoke online suicide prevention training, and a surveillance system for death by probable suicide among Travellers. Funding is recurrent.
Total funding for 2026 (recurring base + new development)
€2,268,343 + €480,000 = €2,748,343
As your question regarding the number of Traveller peer support mental health workers in post is an operational matter, I have referred that part of your question to the HSE for direct reply to you.
447. Deputy Dessie Ellis asked the Minister for Health the additional funding that will be provided for supports for Traveller families in the event of bereavement, a death by suicide of a family member; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [23107/26]
View answer448. Deputy Dessie Ellis asked the Minister for Health her plans to provide dedicated funding in developing youth mental health pilot projects to meet the needs of young members of the Traveller community who are vulnerable to suicide; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [23108/26]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 447 and 448 together.
The Traveller Community are recognised as a priority group in national mental health strategies such as Sharing the Vision and the National Suicide and self-harm Prevention Strategy - Connecting for Life, Travellers experience disproportionately high levels of mental health difficulties and suicide rates.
Connecting for Life (CfL) is Ireland’s national suicide reduction strategy, which came to an end in 2024. It’s successor policy will be launched shortly. It has had strong cross-departmental support from areas including, Justice, Education, Higher Education, Agriculture and Social Protection. Connecting for Life has provided Ireland with a very robust, evidence-based policy on suicide reduction.
Connecting for Life has positioned Ireland as a leader in suicide prevention, and the approach adopted in CfL has been emulated in several countries. The OECD’s 2023 Country Health Profile for Ireland partly attributed reductions in suicide to Connecting for Life and the comprehensive, cross government approach to suicide prevention adopted in Ireland.
Permanent improvements to suicide prevention for Travellers specifically under Connecting for Life include:
• Enhanced community level responses to suicide among Travellers, through local action plans and the network of Resource Officers for Suicide Prevention (ROSPs).
• Enhanced bereavement and crisis support services, including culturally appropriate services for Travellers
• Funding of the Exchange House Ireland Mental Health Service for Travellers
• Development of targeted campaigns to reduce stigma associated with self-harm and suicide.
• Development of co-produced training and education materials.
• Establishment of a National Monitoring System for deaths by suicide among Travellers.
• Enhanced investment into research on specific interventions for Travellers.
• Specific SCAN posts for Travellers to manage self-harm presentations through the National Clinical Programme for Self-Harm and Suicide-related Ideation (NCPSHSI).
In relation to funding, additional funding has been provided annually to address Traveller mental health, with a priority focus on funding Traveller organisations to co-develop mental health services and supports.
In Budget 2025, significant additional ring-fenced funding of €365,000 was secured By Minister Butler, Minister for Mental Health for Traveller mental health initiatives. Additionally funding of €200,000 for the National Traveller Counselling service which was allocated on a once-off basis for 2024, was mainstreamed under Budget 2025, bringing the total funding for Traveller mental health to €565,000.
An additional €480,000 was allocated by Minister Butler also to support Traveller Mental Health initiatives in 2026, which include co-created Traveller/Roma Led Mental health projects aligned to relevant strategies and action plans and support for the work of the Traveller Mental Health Network, among others. In addition, the HSE National Office for Suicide Prevention (NOSP) received a record allocation of €16m in 2026 to expand crisis supports and suicide.
To the extent that this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly as soon as possible.
450. Deputy Dessie Ellis asked the Minister for Health her plans to continue supporting and providing funding for the continuation of the Traveller counselling services; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [23110/26]
View answer451. Deputy Dessie Ellis asked the Minister for Health if she will support the expansion of culturally appropriate counselling services with members of the Traveller community as therapists; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [23111/26]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 450 and 451 together.
I have provided funding in successive budgets to increase counselling services for the Traveller Community. In Budget 2023, the Dept of Health allocated an additional €1.3 million to the HSE to commence the implementation of the National Traveller Health Action Plan, with €300k of this being specifically allocated for Traveller mental health. Two new primary healthcare for Traveller projects were established and staff in other projects were offered an uplift.
Traveller Counselling Service
With regards to Budget 2024, the Department allocated additional non-core funding to expand the Traveller Counselling Service, in line with action 27 in the Traveller Health Action Plan and action 2.3.3 in Connecting for Life. This targeted measure demonstrates the joined-up approach to Traveller health between mental health and inclusion health policy units in the Department. Members of the Traveller community work as therapists in the Traveller Counselling Service.
In Budget 2025, significant additional ring-fenced funding of €365,000 was secured for Traveller mental health initiatives. In addition, funding of €200,000 for the National Traveller Counselling service which was allocated on a once-off basis for 2024, was mainstreamed under Budget 2025, bringing the total funding for Traveller mental health to €565,000. This will build on previous years to expand the National Traveller Counselling Service to also provide services to young Travellers, ensuring that this culturally inclusive counselling service receives the support that it needs.
Budget 2026 provides for an additional €480,000 for several Traveller specific suicide prevention initiatives which have been co-designed with the Traveller Community.
To the extent that this question relates to services, I have referred this question to them for direct reply.
452. Deputy Dessie Ellis asked the Minister for Health if she will reinstate the Traveller Health Advisory Committee; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [23112/26]
View answer453. Deputy Dessie Ellis asked the Minister for Health if she will consider appointing a Department lead on Traveller health and mental health to monitor and progress actions across Departments and initiative; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [23114/26]
View answer454. Deputy Dessie Ellis asked the Minister for Health to publish and implement the National Traveller Health Action Plan; to establish an institutional mechanism with the HSE and the Department of Health to drive its delivery and implementation; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [23115/26]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 452, 453 and 454 together.
The policy instrument for improving Traveller health outcomes is the national Traveller health action plan, published jointly by the Department and the HSE in 2022. The action plan was developed in consultation with Traveller organisations and is delivered in partnership with Travellers. The HSE leads on the implementation of the action plan, overseen by a national monitoring group, the National Traveller Health Implementation Group (NTHIG), with representation from the Department and Traveller organisations.
The HSE has recently published a mid-term review of the action plan, to inform the remaining two years of the plan. The review found that the action plan provides clear direction and momentum for improving Traveller health. However, regional implementation of the plan has been uneven. Looking forward, the establishment of the new HSE regional structures provides an opportunity to re-invigorate the action plan. Another key message is to focus on achievable, prioritised goals, that can realistically be delivered and do not overstretch limited resources.
The HSE recently published a review of the 31 primary healthcare projects that employ Traveller healthcare workers. The report makes five recommendations, which have been accepted by all stakeholders. The HSE has commenced work to implement the recommendations in 2026. This will require additional resources, along with better monitoring and standardised work practices. The Dept of Health is committed to working with the HSE and Traveller organisations to achieve these outcomes, so that the projects can be strengthened to delivery on their vital role.
The development of a Traveller mental health action plan has been significantly advanced by the establishment of a Traveller mental health specialist group, under Sharing the Vision, the national mental health policy. Additional resources were provided for Traveller mental health in 2025 and 2026. The Department is developing a new national suicide prevention policy this year, which is likely to herald further actions focused on Travellers.
The Department provides the HSE with a ring-fenced budget of €16 million for the provision of Traveller-specific health services, including €2.3m for mental health. Further resources of €1m are provided in Budget 2026. In all, this represents an increase of 70% in funding since the action plan commenced.
The Department of health’s statement of strategy 2025-2028, identifies measures that improve life expectancy for Travellers as a priority action for public health. The goal is to level up Traveller life expectancy to the national standard. To this end, the Department has developed three public health measures to drive health equity for Travellers, and to complement the Traveller health action plan. They include a programme to address the social determinants of Traveller health, a programme to support the health and social needs of Traveller women at risk of homelessness and a prevention and early intervention initiative on Traveller child health, known as Brighter Beginnings.
The Department actively consults with Travellers on a range of health policy initiatives. There are two policies currently out for public consultation - the draft national drugs strategy and the new Healthy Ireland framework.
As health equity is central to both these policies, I would encourage Traveller organisations to have their say on how they can best meet the additional health needs of Travellers.
