Moving Traveller Family from llegally Occupied Site at Balgaddy
Back to List25/04/2006
Archived item. This item is published here for historical reasons. The information below may be out of date.
Moving Traveller Family from Illegally Occupied Site at Balgaddy
The lands at Balgaddy have been occupied for some time by an extended Traveller family. The conditions in which they are living are very unsatisfactory and they are now in the centre of a building site. This coupled with the equipment on the lands they occupy does not constitute a safe environment in which to have young children.
These Council owned lands at Balgaddy are in the process of being developed for social housing. The particular site has been illegally occupied by an extended family group and is being developed to provide an additional 65 units of accommodation for families on the housing waiting list. There are at present approximately 4,500 families waiting to be housed on this list. Many of these families have been waiting for accommodation for a long time for housing and the delays on this site extends their wait further.
This extended family has lived in South Dublin since the early 70s. The Council has a duty of care to this family to provide suitable alternative accommodation. In endeavouring to meet the needs of the family, a significant number of suitable alternative accommodation sites have been offered to the family over the past number of years, all of which have been refused by the family. Suitable accommodation at Lynchs Lane, Oldcastle Park, Balgaddy and Tay Lane have been rejected by the family.
The family has consistently expressed a desire to move to a rural area of the county.
Last year the Council reached agreement with the family on the development of a new site especially for them. Following numerous meetings and correspondence with the families and their representatives the Council constructed a six bay facility using its emergency powers on a site at Lock Road, Newcastle. Other elements of this agreement between the family and the Council include, that the family will not keep horses on the site, will not carry out commercial activity, including scrap dealing and that approximately three months after the family moved into the site the Council would begin the process of providing permanent accommodation for them at the same location – including construction of the requested bungalow. This site has been ready for occupation since March 2006 and to date the family have refused to move to Lock Road.
The extended family comprises 10 adults and 17 children. The site which, they illegally occupied at Balgaddy is a public health hazard and poses a risk to the family.
The Council has been left with no option but to serve a Notice under Section 10 of the Housing (Traveller Accommodation) Act 1992 (as amended). This provision of the Act provides, for the removal of a temporary dwelling which, is parked within a 5-mile radius of a site provided by a housing authority to a designated site. The Lock Road site complies with the (High Court Judgement 31st July 1995 Mongan and Another v South Dublin County Council) in that it has the facilities found in a local authority dwelling. This site will provide a far superior living environment for the families than their current location.
Discussions have taken place with the family and their representative regarding their circumstances, the last of which was on 19th April 2006. On Wednesday it was clearly pointed out to the family that they would not be permitted to remain on the site at Balgaddy. Despite this the family have insisted on remaining on the site leaving the Council with no option but to arrange for their removal.
The Council will continue its initiatives to engage with Traveller families in developing enterprise projects to overcome the displacement of the scrap industry. Towards this end the Council has already developed a direct employment programme and is having a positive impact on the creation of training and employment opportunities for young Travellers. The Council’s involvement in the National High Level Group on Travellers and its leadership role on the on the County Management Services Group are all reaping benefits for the improvement of quality of life of Travellers in the county. All state agencies in South Dublin are now working together to put services to Travellers to the fore of service provision and are creating targeted and high impact services for Travellers.
Lock Road, Newcastle. 6 bays have being constructed for the Mongan family to occupy on a temporary/emergency basis.
Image of service pod which, will be provided for the Mongan family. This pod contains shower and washing facilities together with a utility area. This type of pod is used to provide basic facilities for families on temporary and emergency sites. The Council is in the process of upgrading all temporary and emergency sites, part of which is the provision of these units.
Existing site at Balgaddy which, is occupied by the Mongan family. As can be seen the site is sub-standard and poses a public health hazard and poses a risk to the family. The family have on site no E.S.B supply, power is obtained from generators on the site. 3 Portaloos have been provided by the Council. The family have access to cold water tap only.
The Council is committed to providing the highest standard of accommodation to Travellers. The above is an example of a permanent residential caravan park bay.