Tánaiste and Minister for Health Mary Harney has promised that a new Traveller Health Study will be conducted in 2006.
"It has taken time to ensure that the infrastructure and people are in place for the study to commence, but I can assure you that the study will proceed without further delay and will commence early next year," Ms Harney said.
The Tánaiste was speaking at the National Traveller Health Conference in Croke Park today. Earlier the conference had heard that figures on Travellers' health are nearly 20 years old.
Mrs Missie Collins of the National Traveller Health Advisory Committee said: "We need these facts and figures now if we are to plan effectively to meet out health needs, we can't keep using figures that are nearly 20 years old".
The Conference heard of the contribution that Primary Health Care (PHC) Projects have made to Traveller health over the past 11 years.
However, it was pointed out that many Traveller women experienced difficulties accessing secondary social welfare benefits while being employed as PHC workers.
The director of Pavee Point, Ronnie Fay, called for a national pilot scheme for Traveller PHC projects which would ensure Traveller women do not lose their secondary benefits.
"Given Travellers' appalling health statistics, Pavee Point calls for affirmative action and proposes that Travellers should be able to retain their medical cards for five years after taking up employment," he added.
The Tánaiste also announced that the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland will provide a scholarship to a member of the Travelling Community in Medicine, Pharmacy and Physiotherapy as part of its Access Programme.