Youth and Community Development Management – Traveller Mediation Service

Using conflict theory, critically examine the work of The Traveller Mediation Service (TMS) and answer one of the following questions:

1. What is the state’s role in addressing conflict if the state institution has no social legitimacy? Discuss the state’s role in addressing conflict and how it responds to tension.
2. The TMS is peer-led yet it is state funded. Discuss how this creates a conflict theory paradox, and how this funding may compromise its neutrality or co-opt it into doing the state’s policing work.
3. Using specific data from the Irish Travellers’ Access to Justice report, discuss how Travellers are over-policed as suspects and under-policed as victims.

Week 6 readings supplied: TMS Peer Mediation Evaluation Report (2019), TMS Mediating Change executive summary, A Review of the TMS (2025), An Overview of the TMS Peer Mediation in Prisons Initiative (2020), and further articles and UN human rights committee material on Ireland.

Experts Answer on Above Question on Sociology

TMS Funding and Conflict

The traveller mediation service clearly demonstrates the conflict theory Paradox because the main reason behind which it is designed is to allow Travellers to resolve disputes. However it is largely dependent on state funding and works with state institutions. According to conflict theory, society is unequal with powerful institutions having the ability to protect their interest and influence how conflict is designed and managed. TMS is known for providing mediation between traveller families, traveller organisations, state Agencies and settled communities. It also has the provision of conflict prevention training and peer mediation in prisons.

Conflict Theory Perspective

From the conflict theory perspective, there is always a risk from state funding that is dependent on TMS on the same institutions whose unequal power relationships it aims to challenge. The service is funded by the Department of Justice, while TMS works with Irish prison service and other statutory agencies. It leads to tension between community Independence and institutional accountability.

Restorative justice

There are three main dimensions which include dependence on state funding, risk of becoming an instrument of social control and compromised neutrality. The dependence on state funding in respect to TMS could pressurise it to prioritise government objectives, funding conditions and measurable outcomes over the need for Traveller communities. This will result in reduced ability to challenge institutional discrimination.

It can also become an instrument of social control in the sense that in prisons, peer mediation is utilised to reduce conflict and violence but it benefits prisoners and supports prison management in maintaining order. In respect to this, conflict theory raises issues as traveller mediators could unintentionally perform part of the state disciplinary work. In respect to compromised neutrality, it is essential that TMS maintain trust among travellers and state agencies, because if families perceive mediators as representative government, they may question their impartiality and become reluctant to participate.

This particular tension is clearly visible in 2019 Castlerea Prison whereby it was evident that peer mediation helped build trust, encouraged prisoners to resolve disputes peacefully, and also recorded tensions with some prison officers who realised that mediation threatened their authority. It clearly indicates the need for clear boundaries between peer mediators and prison officers.

Critical argument – the funding by the state does not necessarily destroy TMS neutrality, and it can provide resources, professional training and national reach. However, the problems are mainly when there is involvement in the mediation priorities, or treating community led mediation as a means of controlling conflict. The independence of TMS is highly dependent on transparent funding arrangement, traveller participation, confidentiality and the freedom to challenge institutional practices.

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The analysis of Traveller mediation service utilising conflict theory, state funding neutrality and institutional power above revealed important findings about its independence when funded by state funding. For assignments involving similar kinds of analysis, visit our Irish assignment help page to get a professional expert for your assignment. Also go through the solved assignment answers from the University of Limerick to know more about our experts.