Background and Context

Introduction

The Clare Traveller Community Development Project (CDP) is a remarkable initiative dedicated to improving the living conditions, opportunities, and human rights of Travellers in Clare. As the host organisation and a member of the Steering Group, CLDC proudly supports this community-driven endeavor.

The CDP's recent launch of its Strategic Plan marks a significant milestone, emphasising the importance of Traveller leadership and collaboration with various stakeholders. The event showcased strong community engagement and highlighted key areas of focus, including accommodation, health, education, and culture.

Minister Joe O'Brien's endorsement and recognition of the CDP's impact reinforce its commitment to empowering the Travelling community. Together, we strive for positive change, acknowledging the challenges ahead while celebrating the achievements made thus far in this transformative journey.

Horse

About Irish Travellers

Irish Travellers are an indigenous minority who, historical sources confirm, have been part of Irish society for centuries. Travellers long shared history, cultural values, language, customs and traditions make them a self-defined group, and one which is recognisable and distinct. Their culture and way of life, of which nomadism is an important factor, distinguishes them from the sedentary (settled) population.
 
There are an estimated 31,000 Travellers in Ireland, making up more than 4,485 Traveller families. This constitutes approximately 0.7% of the total national population. It is estimated that an additional 15,000 Irish Travellers live in Britain, with a further 10,000 Travellers of Irish descent living in the US.
 
Traveller Ethnicity
Travellers were formally recognised as an ethnic group by the Irish state on March 1st 2017, after many decades of campaigning by ITM and other Traveller activists and organisations. Ethnicity or identity relates to the collective set of beliefs, attitudes, values, norms and language that Travellers share that make them Travellers.
 
Traveller Culture
Culture is not static and solely based in the past, but an interplay between tradition and emerging new ideas.
Traveller culture and identity is constantly changing and adapting. Some aspects of change happen as society changes globally. Other changes are forced upon the community- for example, legislative changes that have had huge negative impacts on Traveller culture: nomadism effectively criminalised through the Trespass legislation, changed laws governing market trading and laws covering horse ownership.
 
These laws have meant that traditional aspects of Traveller culture are almost impossible to express. Despite these policies, which have had serious impacts on the community, Travellers continue to see themselves as Travellers and show pride in their identity and heritage.
 
Marginalisation of Travellers
Travellers, as individuals and as a group, experience a high level of prejudice and exclusion in Irish society. Many have to endure living in intolerable conditions, such as lack of access to basic facilities of sanitation, water and electricity. This leads to ongoing health problems among the Traveller community. The All Ireland Traveller Health Study 2010 revealed that Traveller men live, on average, 15 years less than settled men, while Traveller women live on average 11 years less than their settled peers. Discrimination and its effects are a daily feature of Travellers lives.

Pilot Project

Clare Traveller Community Development Project (CDP) was one of seven pilot projects supported under the Department of Rural and Community Development’s “Pilot Project Community Development Fund”.

The application was made in 2021 on behalf of four organisations in Clare: Clare Local Development Company, Clare Women’s Network, Clare Public Participation Network and the HSE’s Mid-West Traveller Health Unit. It was endorsed by a number of other community and voluntary organisations around the county.

A strong case was made for the establishment of a Traveller specific organisation in Clare, the absence of which has proven to be a significant barrier to addressing the range of challenges faced by the Traveller community.

The need for a mechanism through which “active Traveller participation in the decisions that affect their lives” was especially emphasised. The rationale, in arguing for a three-year pilot project, was established around the conviction that:

• Firstly, a dedicated Traveller initiative will provide a solid framework within which the needs of the community can be addressed in a targeted way. This is especially important as a coordination point for the range of agencies and service providers – allowing for a comprehensive and collaborative response to be developed.

• Secondly, a meaningful and effective response to Traveller community needs will be possible only if Travellers themselves have a central role in identifying challenges and making decisions on appropriate responses. Those organisations fronting the pilot proposal pledged support, through institutional and governance guidance, with the aim of establishing autonomy and self-determination for the Clare Traveller CDP.2

CTCDP-Strategic-Plan-Final-Version-May-2023-14

Planning Process

The strategic planning process was aimed at developing an approach and structures that would meet both of these objectives:

1. Building up an understanding of priority needs and challenges for the Traveller community in Clare, mainly through engagement with members of the community.

2. Identifying programmes and actions that would address development needs of the Traveller community in Clare by engaging with and involving a range of relevant stakeholders county-wide.

The Strategic Planning Process

This plan is the result of a series of joint workshops and consultation with a range of stakeholders. Using the ‘Theory of Change’ approach, the central voices in this process were voices from the Traveller community.

A total of five joint planning workshops were facilitated; setting goals and targets for the strategic plan; identifying challenges to be addressed and strengths to be built upon; reaching agreement on priorities for actions and programmes; deciding on structures and procedures needed if goals and targets are to be met. As well as planning workshops held in Ennis, meetings were also held with members of the Traveller community based in Ennistymon, Shannon, Kilrush and Lahinch.

A summary of the Theory of Change process used in the workshops is shown below.

The process led to an agreed statement on our ‘vision statement’ to provide direction and guide the project’s actions and approach for the coming three years

Strategic Plan 2023

Download our Strategic Plan for more information

CLARE TRAVELLER CDP VISION STATEMENT

“Our aim is to improve living conditions, opportunities and achievement of human rights for Travellers in Clare. This will be pursued through establishing and strengthening local alliances and, most importantly, through building effective Traveller leadership and a strong Traveller voice”

Vision

https://claretravellercdp.ie/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/cropped-CTCDP-LOGOsmall.png

The Traveller CDP aims to improve living conditions, opportunities and achievement of human rights for Travellers in Clare.

Contact Info

Clare Traveller CDP,
Clon Road Business Park,
Ennis, Co. Clare V95 N26T

info@claretravellercdp.ie

This project is funded by Department of Rural and Community Development
image005
Scroll to Top