Irish Travellers Movement

FROM THE CHAIRPERSON

2004 was an exciting and challenging year for ITM. Once again the securing of funding has given a much needed boost to the organisation?s funds, particularly for the new posts such as the Education worker, Community Advocacy Programme and the EU Equal Programme.   These will go a long way towards allowing ITM to develop the work to
which we are committed.

2004 saw the build up and preparation of the Traveller Education Strategy. 2005 will be a crucial year for the development of this Strategy and it is envisaged that the strategy will go a long way to ensure that Traveller learners will have full and equal access to
mainstream education and training provision.

Travellers who are forced to live in unofficial accommodation still face the threat of eviction and uncertainty under the trespass legislation.   Traveller accommodation remains one of the biggest challenges for Traveller groups at a local and national level and with the preparation of the new accommodation programmes, local groups will have a huge
challenge in ensuring Traveller accommodation targets are met.

This Annual Report gives an overview of the work undertaken in 2004.   It looks at the key issues and advances made in areas such as education, accommodation, and equality. It also looks at the work of the legal unit and the progress it has made throughout 2004.

ITM thanks all our members for the hard work put into ITM and its structures in 2004, and in particular to the people who have given their time in a voluntary capacity, as it is
your commitment that makes ITM continue to grow from strength to strength.

Nancy Power
Chairperson, ITM Central Group.