Offaly Traveller Movement Struggling To Meet Demand For Services

30 members of the traveling community have died by suicide this year.

Travellers say they experienced an increase in racist incidents after last year's Presidential election. 

The rights of Travellers and their culture became an election issue during the campaign last October.

An Oireachtas committee has been hearing they experience discrimination on a daily basis leading to a mental health crisis in the community.

Sandra McDonagh from the Offaly Traveller Movement told the committee they've seen a bigger demand for their services this year but they're struggling to resource it : 

The Irish Traveller Movement says the high number of deaths highlights the need for more resources to tackle the mental health crisis in the community.

Fine Gael TD and Offaly's Marcella Corcoran Kennedy wants the issue tackled in the classroom. 

A counselling service for Travellers says urgent action is needed to address mental illness in the community. 

Thomas McCann from the Traveller Counselling Service is calling for a Traveller national mental health strategy: 

Structural discrimination in communities is a major contributor to the mental health crisis suffered by Travellers. 

Fianna Fail TD Éamon Ó Cuiv says Travellers are much more likely to end up in homelessness: 

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