This article is from page 4 of the 2009-12-08 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 4 JPG
THE GRANDMOTHER of a fam- ily which has been pleading to be allowed take up residence in a Clare Traveller accommodation scheme is in intensive care today after taking ill in her caravan.
The woman – who is in her 50s – her husband, two sons and her son’s wife and seven children have been asking to be allowed move into some of the 14 free units in the Traveller accommodation in Quin.
But in a letter in answer to the accomodation application, Clare County Council refused to cater for the family in the Quin facility “in accordance with the Traveller Accomodation Programme.”
Heather Rosen, a Traveller advo- cate and friend of the family who has been campaigning on their behalf said, “The position now is that this lady, who suffers from Epilepsy, Asthma and Vasculitis has had seizures in her caravan and has had to be brought into in- tensive care,’ Heather said.
The family – who have asked not to be named for fear that it might hamper them further in finding privately rented accommodation – have been repeatedly moved on in their caravans from various areas along the by-pass.
“When they were on the bypass they knew where they were and they could tell the emergency serv-
ices how to get to them. But they had been moved off it again on Saturday night and they were on a small road and couldn’t describe to the emergency services how to get to them when she took ill.
“They could only stay with her until the seizures had passed and then brought her to Ennis Accident and Emergency on Sunday morn- ing, where she is now.”
Ms Rosen said that the family had been given the go-ahead for rent allowance if they could find private accommodation.
“She found a house and after meeting the landlord, he agreed to let it to them last week. But the day afterwards he rang to say he had let it to someone else.
“It’s very, very difficult for Trav- eller families to find private rent- ed accommodation even when they have the allowance.
Heather described the collection of woes for the Traveller family as “a litany of despair. This woman desperately needs housing that is warm, dry and has proper sanita- tion.”
“She is a very ill woman. Even her medications are damp in the caravan. The wind howls through the skylight.”
Heather said the family have written to the council seeking clarification of the original letter.
There was no-one contactable in Clare County Council to comment on the matter last night.