442. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Health the average waiting time for homecare, per county in the past five years, in tabular form. [23091/26]

As this is an operational matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.

443. Deputy Dessie Ellis asked the Minister for Health the status of a national Traveller mental health strategy; the progress that has been made on developing one; the timeframe for when it will be delivered; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [23102/26]

444. Deputy Dessie Ellis asked the Minister for Health the funding that has been allocated for the implementation of a national Traveller mental health strategy; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [23103/26]

445. Deputy Dessie Ellis asked the Minister for Health when she envisages the establishment of a national Traveller mental health steering group which would collaborate in the implementation of a national Traveller mental health strategy; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [23105/26]

I propose to take Questions Nos. 443, 444 and 445 together.

The government is committed to working with all stakeholders to improve the health experiences and outcomes for Travellers, in a comprehensive, coordinated, transparent, and sustainable manner.

The Traveller Community are recognised as a priority group in national mental health strategies such as Sharing the Vision and the National Suicide and self-harm Prevention Strategy - Connecting for Life. Travellers experience disproportionately high levels of mental health difficulties and suicide rates.

In relation to funding, additional funding has been provided annually to address Traveller mental health, with a priority focus on funding Traveller organisations to co-develop mental health services and supports.

In Budget 2025, significant additional ring-fenced funding of €365,000 was secured By Minister Butler, Minister for Mental Health for Traveller mental health initiatives. Additionally funding of €200,000 for the National Traveller Counselling service which was allocated on a once-off basis for 2024, was mainstreamed under Budget 2025, bringing the total funding for Traveller mental health to €565,000.

An additional €480,000 was allocated by Minister Butler also to support Traveller Mental Health initiatives in 2026, which include co-created Traveller/Roma Led Mental health projects aligned to relevant strategies and action plans and support for the work of the Traveller Mental Health Network, among others. In addition, the HSE National Office for Suicide Prevention (NOSP) received a record allocation of €16m in 2026 to expand crisis supports and suicide.

The first full bi-annual report by the National Traveller Mental Health Working Group was developed in November 2025 and covers a range of actions spanning the Department of Health’s and the HSE’s commitments to Traveller Mental Health. The report documents the work that took place between January – October 2025 (Q1-Q3)

Q1 – Q3 2025 Policy Level Key Accomplishments

1. Expanded Counselling Services for Travellers  -

Expansion of Traveller Counselling hubs in Kildare, Mayo, and Cork (NTRIS II, CfL,JCR)

Introduction of two youth counsellors for Travellers in Dublin (NTRIS II, CfL, JCR)

2. Research and Evaluation

Evaluation of the Traveller Primary Health Care Projects (NTHAP)

Commissioned research on Roma Mental Health (NTRMHWG)

Partnership with National Suicide Research Foundation to support tracking incidents of suicide in Traveller community (NTRIS II, CfL)

3. Community Programmes and Development

Sláintecare Healthy Communities grants awarded (NTHAP, JCR)

Development of a Traveller Specialist Group under Sharing the Vision (StV)

4. Service Developments

Progression of Ethnic Identifier within Community Connect, the HSE programme that will implement a digital system for managing patient information in all community services (NTHAP, NTRIS II)

Pilot project for the development of an implementation guide to support Traveller women at risk of homelessness ongoing in 2025 (NTRIS II)

The population health approach that the Sharing the Vision policy advocates contains universal recommendations that benefit everyone in society but also acknowledges that additional work is required to promote positive mental health and build resilience among specific priority groups deemed to be ‘at risk’.

To support this Minister Butler requested the establishment of a Specialist Group for Traveller Mental Health. This is based on the need for a specific focus and leadership on supports for Traveller MH given the persistently poor mental health outcomes for this Community.

Minister Butler requested the Specialist Group to:

• Review existing data and research on Traveller Mental Health,

• Identify gaps in service provision and barriers to access,

• Include and engage with Traveller representatives and organisations to ensure culturally sensitive approaches,

• Develop evidence-based recommendations for policy and service development across Government,

• Produce an interim report to inform the 2027 Budget Estimates process

• Produce a Traveller Mental Health Action Plan.

The Group is being independently Chaired by Dr Fiona Keogh and is made up of members of the Traveller Representative Groups, members of the Department of Health’s Mental Health and Social Inclusion Units, HSE officials, Travellers with Lived Experience, a member of the HRB and the Department of Children, Disability and Equality. The Group was established at the end of January and will produce an interim report and a final Traveller Mental Health Action Plan within twelve months.