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Maintain Training Allowances for Traveller Women Participating in Local Training Initiatives throughout Ireland

Maintain Training Allowances for Traveller Women Participating in Local Training Initiatives throughout Ireland

66 signatures 34 to reach 100
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Started by Anonymous 16 years, 3 months ago
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.

Updates

April 27, 2010

The government is stonewalling us because they refuse to acknowledge that their cold bureaucracy destroys the futures of Traveller women. I am tired of the silence while these women lose the support they need to provide for their families. We are not going away until they reverse these discriminatory rules.

April 27, 2010

The government thought they could quietly strip these women of their training allowances without anyone noticing. This surge in support proves that we are watching and we are ready to fight back against this blatant exclusion.

6 Comments

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Ciara Wade
16 years ago Featured

Such a shortsighted move by the government. These programs actually work and help people get jobs. Don't cut the funding.

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Liam Rodriguez
16 years ago Featured

Give these women a chance to finish what they started. It makes no sense to block them now after two years of hard work.

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Mary Saunders
16 years ago Featured

My niece is doing this course and it means everything to her. Taking away the allowance will force her to quit. So cruel.

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Eimear Barnes
16 years ago Featured

TOTAL DISGRACE. These women are trying to build proper futures for themselves and their families and the system just blocks them at every turn.

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Siobhan Duncan
16 years ago Featured

This is so unfair. These women work so hard to get their qualifications and now the rug is being pulled out from under them. Let them finish their course.

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Patrick Marshall
16 years ago Featured

Ridiculous decision. Why stop people from trying to improve their lives and get into the workforce? Needs to be sorted asap.

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