Finglas Traveller Development Group

The Tolka Area Partnership Community Development Worker with Travellers worked initially to establish, and now to support, a Traveller led representative group in the Finglas area. The Finglas Traveller Development Group (FTDG) as it is now known, has a Traveller led management committee that meets monthly to oversee and drive Community Development work with Travellers. The group also has a Community Employment worker from the Traveller Community who is seconded to work with the FTDG from Pavee Point. Organisational development involving the continued promotion and building of the group is a key objective. Traveller representation and leadership is facilitated at all levels of work.

The group’s work-plan until 2011 prioritises the following areas of work:

Accommodation

The FTDG compiles research with Traveller families on issues relating to accommodation. We compile submissions to both Fingal County and Dublin City Council on their Traveller Accommodation Plans. We support residents in establishing residents committees and facilitate meetings with residents and council officials. The FTDG also advocates on behalf of Travellers on issues of accommodation and will call meetings with Councillors and interested parties to highlight accommodation issues. Two Travellers from the local area also sit on the Local Traveller Accommodation Consultative Committee (LTACC) for Dublin City Council.

Traveller Representation

The FTDG has a Traveller led management committee. Other management committee members are represented on local development structures with Michael Collins as the current chair of RAPID committee and as a representative on the DCC LTACC. Anne Marie Mc Donagh sits on the Finglas Domestic Violence Working Group. All members also sit on the Finglas Traveller Forum.

Traveller Women’s and Men’s Development

FTDG runs a women’s group which meets weekly. The FTDG also facilitated a project with Traveller men (2008/09) to build a traditional barrel top wagon.

Interagency Work

The Finglas Traveller Development Group Community Development Worker sits on a number of local committees to encourage the participation of Travellers in local initiatives.