Sláintecare Healthy Communities Kildare announced as a successful project for the Traveller Health Initiative

The Minister for Public Health, Wellbeing and the National Drugs Strategy, Colm Burke TD recently announced Athy, Co. Kildare as one of five areas nationally to share in a €710,000 Dormant Accounts fund, to address the social determinants of Traveller health.

Kildare secured €142,000, the maximum allocation for this two year programme.

The successful application was made as part of the Sláintecare Healthy Communities programme, through the Local Development Officer in Kildare County Council.

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Athy is one of twenty Sláintecare Healthy Community Programmes, established throughout Ireland by the Department of Health, in areas with a higher population of Travellers compared to the rest of the country.

Sláintecare Healthy Communities Kildare, in collaboration with Kildare Traveller Action, HSE, County Kildare LEADER Partnership, KWETB and other organisations, will work together to recruit a dedicated Traveller Community Worker.

This Traveller Community Worker will deliver programmes based on Traveller men’s interests, including the Engage National Men’s Health Training Programme.

The funding will also support the establishment of an after-school programme for Travellers attending primary school and a support hub for secondary school students. Kildare Traveller Action will lead this project.

Speaking at the launch, Minister Burke said: “As Minister of State in the Department of Health, I am delighted that this new funding contributes to the implementation of our National Traveller Health Action Plan. It also complements the Sláintecare Healthy Communities programme which targets the most disadvantaged areas across the country.”

Sonya Kavanagh, Chief Executive, Kildare County Council highlighted the significance of this funding for Kildare: “We are delighted to secure this funding to continue the very positive work that is taking place in Athy with Kildare Traveller Action. This funding will build on the work to increase opportunities for young Travellers to participate in increased educational supports after school and to engage more Traveller men in community development initiatives.

“The Sláintecare Healthy Communities Programme in Athy, as part of the work of Kildare LCDC, is very positively working to engage local people in determining how they can live healthier lifestyles and enabling those changes to occur. This funding recognises the work to date and provides additional required resources for Kildare.”