This article is from page 2 of the 2011-10-11 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 2 JPG
NEW figures show that since 2009 Clare County Council has issued 201 statutory notices instructing the removal of temporary dwellings from unauthorised encampments around the county. The figures, contained in a new report on Traveller accommodation in Clare, come as communities express frustration with Traveller encampments in areas of Ennis and Barefield.
11 caravans were parked between Barefield village and a section of road leading onto the M18 on Thursday. A spokesman for local residents said there had been a build of rubbish in the area over the past week. “We’ve been absolutely pestered. We don’t deserve that. We’re trying to keep the village tidy. We heard from the council that they got something like 45 calls about this. It seems that there is one law for Travellers and one law for the rest of us.”
According to the spokesman, temporary dwellings can be removed from the side of the road under the local government sanitary services act; the planning and development act and the road traffic act.
Councillors also expressed concern over developments at Barefield at yesterday’s meeting of Clare County Council. Cllr James Breen (Ind) said action needed to be taken to prevent caravans parking at the side of the road.
The meeting also heard that resi- dents of Fioruisce on the Gort Road in Ennis are concerned after four caravans moved into the area over the past month. Cllr Johnny Flynn (FG) said children are at risk by dogs and speeding cars while an area of the housing estate was being used as a “toilet”. Cllr Brennan said it was time for the council to act and to get rid of the caravans.
According to a report prepared by Bernadette Kinsella, Director of Housing, Social and Cultural Services, 201 statutory notices instructing the removal of temporary dwellings from unauthorised encampments were issued in the past two years.
The report explains, “In most cases, the occupiers of the temporary dwellings were previously accommodated by this council or another housing authority and/or they have refused offers of accommodation. There are currently five unauthorised roadside encampments being addressed.”
In relation to the existing legislation, the report states, “In the course of implementing the legislative framework on unauthorised encampments the council has identified some weaknesses in the provisions which need to be addressed. These issues were recently highlighted to the Clare Oireachtas members and have also been referred by the council to the Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government with a view to securing a review and revision of the roads and housing legislative provisions.”