Members of the Traveller community in Dublin’s Blanchardstown recently organised a protest to highlight the failure of local authorities to deliver on Traveller-specific accommodation.The protest, which took place outside the Fingal County Council offices in Blanchardstown, was supported by Travellers and organisations from all over the country.
In a statement, the organisers said: “Local authorities and the Irish Government have failed to deliver accommodation for many Traveller families over the past 15 years, and now is the time to protest around the lack of investment in Traveller-specific accommodation and the impact this is having on Traveller families and especially on Traveller children.”
The organisers highlighted the plight of the McDonnell families on Dunsink Lane, who they said have suffered as a result of Government inaction.
“These are 14 families living in an unofficial halting site in Dunsink Lane for the past 15 years. Their site lack basic services such as hot water, electricity and flushing toilets, bin collection, no postal service or suitable play area for children and they have been affected by flooding several times.
“The local authority… has failed to provide accommodation for this family despite commitments made for the past 15 years.”
The statement continued: “Local organisations are being asked to mobilise as many staff and people from the community for this day of protest. It is vital that we show a strong, collective movement that stands in solidarity with the many Traveller families being denied their basic legal right to culturally appropriate accommodation.”
