A/HRC/20/25 3. Travellers 106. As highlighted in the mission report, because of the structural discrimination they experience, Travellers are particularly vulnerable to poverty, suffering from lower life expectancy and education outcomes. The Special Rapporteur acknowledges that Ireland indicated during the universal periodic review that it is giving ―serious consideration‖ towards officially recognizing Travellers as an ethnic group, and she calls on the Government to do so as a matter of priority. The Special Rapporteur is concerned that little progress has been made on the development of a new National Traveller Health Strategy or on providing need-specific housing facilities. The Special Rapporteur calls on Ireland to consider carefully her recommendations with regard to health, housing and education for the Traveller community. 4. Homeless people and people living in substandard housing conditions 107. The Special Rapporteur had urged the Government to take immediate action to meet the critical need for social housing, and to adopt measures to solve the long-term housing needs in the country from a rights-based approach. Unfortunately, no action has been taken in that regard, with Budget 2012 providing for a substantial reduction in the social housing budget, and a 20 per cent increase in the minimum contribution payable by tenants receiving the Rent Supplement. 5. Asylum-seekers and refugees 108. The Special Rapporteur recommended that Ireland review the Direct Provision system, ensuring that asylum-seekers are afforded the full enjoyment of their rights to, inter alia, family life, social security, and access to the labour market. This recommendation has not been followed. However, the Special Rapporteur welcomes information indicating that the Immigration, Residence and Protection Bill of 2010 includes provisions for the introduction of a single protection determination procedure. In its appearance before the universal periodic review mechanism, Ireland acknowledged the existence of unacceptable delays in processing citizenship applications, and indicated that streamlining measures would be in place within six months (A/HRC/WG.6/12/IRL/1, para. 145). The Special Rapporteur urges the Government to meet this commitment, and to ensure that the new system is grounded in human rights principles. VII. Conclusions and recommendations 109. Following up on recommendations made in country mission reports is crucial in ensuring the impact of special procedures’ work. In the present report, the Special Rapporteur also highlights several challenges that make a follow-up assessment difficult to undertake. 110. The extent and depth of the follow-up assessment depended largely on the level of engagement of the States concerned; the degree to which NHRIs, United Nations agencies and NGOs were able to engage in the follow-up process; and the availability of up-to-date information and poverty data. In conducting her assessment, the Special Rapporteur found very different levels of engagement, responsiveness, availability of information and accuracy of data. 111. Nevertheless, the Special Rapporteur believes that the follow-up assessment has been a valuable exercise. In particular, it shows that where there is sufficient political will, meaningful progress in addressing poverty and fulfilling human rights can be made over a short period of time. She acknowledges that in some of the reviewed States the impact of the global economic downturn has affected the availability of 21