Roma Community Work

In 2014/2015 a County Kerry Roma Interagency group was established. The group comprises of statutory and non-statutory organisations, including TIRC, KASI (Killarney Immigration Support Centre), HSE Community Work Department, North East and West Kerry Development, South Kerry Partnership, Tralee Women’s Resource Centre, Kerry Travellers Community Development Project, IT Tralee and representatives from the local Roma Community. This forum provides an opportunity to discuss, identify and highlight gaps in the provision of services for the Roma Community and provides a platform for members of the Roma Community to highlight issues and challenges affecting them. The issues faced by Roma are complex and multilayer.

The County Kerry interagency group has supported TIRC in building and maintaining positive and trusting relationships with the Roma Community living in Tralee and Killarney. This initiative has significantly increased dialogue between NGO’s and the Roma Community. TIRC now provides a drop in Roma clinic on a weekly basis which provides support and advocacy on a range of topics including, housing issues, Department of Social Protection application forms and appeals, form filling, general information and support along with accompaniment to appointments if required. Recently a food share initiative has commenced to combat food poverty within the community.