Council Urged Not To Reward Law-Breakers In New Traveller Accommodation Plan

Clare FM

Clare County Council is being urged to ensure those setting up illegal encampments are not bumped up the housing list in it's new traveller accommodation strategy. Under the draft plan, the local authority is aiming to provide for 97 new traveller families by the end of the decade. A Clare government TD is calling on the county council to adopt a full-steam ahead approach with regards to its provision of traveller accommodation from 2025 to 2029. Data gathered by the local authority so far suggests that 77 traveller families here are in need of permanent social housing and it's envisaged another 20 households willl need group housing or serviced caravan bays. There are currently 64 traveller specific accommodation sites in Clare and of these 11 houses and 7 bays are vacant. Five homes are undergoing extensive repairs due to fire damage, but the local authority has also noted a lack of interest in the remaining vacancies as some applicants will not consider properties in certain areas due to ongoing feuds. Meelick Fianna Fáil Deputy Cathal Crowe, who was the only Oireachtas member to contribute to the strategy, insists the vacancies must be filled as a priority amid the housing crisis. He says that if issues persist after families move in to their homes, its a matter for the Gardaí. A member of Clare's Local Traveller Accommodation Advisory Committee is calling for improved policy co-ordination at a government level to prevent illegal encampments. In the last five years alone, Clare County Council has spent €484,000 in legal fees relating to unauthorised encampments. As part of the council's research for the strategy though, illegal encampment households were surveyed to determined their future housing needs. Lisdoonvarna Fine Gael Councillor Joe Garrihy says there must be a clear understanding that households will not be rewarded for breaking the law and will not be bumped up the housing list.