A new database designed to assist the improvement of services for Travellers was launched by Auxiliary Bishop of Dublin Raymond Field today.
The database was created by research consultant Mr John Weafer for CROSSCARE, the agency for social care in the Dublin Archdiocese. It contains information on Travelling families in the diocese and identifies them by number, gender and age.
The information will be made available in disk form for both the public and the relevant agencies.
CROSSCARE liaison officer Mr Pat Brady hopes the data will enable the community to build a better relationship with Travellers.
"We can find out who they are in an informal way and through our network of parishes we can encourage them to get involved in the community, in education, in sport or in community events," he said.
He pointed out there are over 1,200 Travelling families in Ireland with no permanent home and that the time had come for a plan to deal with the situation.