The Citizen Traveller Campaign is due to be "wound up" in the near future the Minister for Justice, Mr McDowell, announced following a value for money review published today.
The review of the Citizen Traveller Campaign, carried out by independent management consultants, concluded that the campaign did not achieve significant success in its main objective - to heal the divide in Irish society that stands between the settled and Traveller communities.
However, the report also said that the campaign had many positive achievements to its credit including engaging the Traveller community, raising Traveller self esteem and highlighting issues of Traveller accomodation and education.
It also concluded that the management of the campaign did obtain good value for money in procuring services and in the use of those services.
A spokesperson for Citizen Traveller said while welcoming the review, it was "gravely concerned" at the Minister's decision to wind up the campaign.
The Campaign highlighted the fact the report found that meeting the original objectives set down by the campaign was difficult due to a number of reasons namely, lack of adequate guidance on policy from Derpartment Officials and limited resources and budget available.
Ms Jacinta Brack, Director of Communications of Citizen Traveller said, "The Campaign has been cut short at a critical time in its development as the report highlights there have been significant and positive achievements to date, however they are only a drop in the ocean of what could have been achieved."
The Traveller organisations called for an immediate meeting with the Minister to discuss alternative options available for a replacement scheme.
