Southside Travellers - in partnership with its partner Traveller organisations throughout Ireland and community and voluntary organsiations throughout Dun Laoghaire / Rathdown - is calling on government to reassess the particular impact of changes to eligibility criteria for women participating in the local training initiative. Speaking at the Board meeting, Catherine Morley (Director of Southside Travellers) said: "For us, these changes mean that women who have been participating in the programme for two years will not be able to complete their third year and thus gain the level of qualification required for progression or employment. We are an organisaiton that is a very good example of what these types of programmes can achieve - we have a management team of seven here at Southside Travellers, and four of them are women graduates of this programme. Our Health and Well-Being Programme is another example. The experience is similar for all Traveller Organisations." Essentially, these changes will have a particular and excluding impact on married Traveller women who are considered, for social welfare purposes, dependent spouses and who have not sought individuation. In addition to the impact of the withdrawal of the training allowance - a relatively small amount which facilitates women to pay childcare, travel and meal costs - the fourteen women on the programme in Southside Travellers face the prospect of being denied continuing progression through the FETAC accredited courses they are currently completing. The Director of Southside Travellers, Education Co-Ordinator and programme paritcipants will attend a meeting in the Irish Traveller Movement on Wednesday next, to prepare delegates who are meeting Minister O'Cuiv to discuss this issue. Join our petition and show your support for Traveller Women's right to education.

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