Irish Travellers Movement

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4.1 Recommendations:

4.1.1 National Level

Six key proposals are central to addressing the lack of delivery of transient accommodation and will require to be implemented by the Minister as follows:

  1. The establishment of a national driver to coordinate and ensure the delivery of a range of accommodation including provision for nomadic families. The ITM restates its belief that the provision of a National Traveller Accommodation Agency, as recommended in the Task Force Report 1995, is the proper vehicle to secure the delivery of Traveller accommodation. Such an agency should be complementary to the work of the National Traveller Accommodation Consultative Committee. This agency would have responsibility to develop, construct and manage a network of transient accommodation. The ITM will table this issue for discussion at the earliest opportunity at the NTACC.
  2. Section 24 of the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2002 should be repealed. This would ensure that Travellers are reassured that nomadism is recognised by the state, as reflected in the policy and legislative framework and would re-establish nomadic rights.
  3. The recommendations from NTACC regarding reforms to the planning legislation to accommodate nomadism should be implemented.
  4. A national mapping exercise should be undertaken, to establish traditional stopping places used by Travellers. Once established the Minister should issue a directive to local authorities to reopen traditional camping areas. Such areas could be hard surfaced and basic services provided. The management of same could be achieved through providing services such as refuse collection and service blocks in return for a fee.
  5. The government should ensure that designated legal stopping places are created where Travellers can temporarily stay.
  6. Models of nomadic provision in other countries should be examined.
4.1.2 Local Level

The following recommendations call on the local authority to implement nomadic provision in three ways. First, provide land that can be used temporarily to cater for fairs and events; secondly sites with basic services to cater for all year round movement and finally, supporting Travellers to arrange nomadic provision privately. The recommendations also offer practical ways to manage transient accommodation.

Each local authority should implement the following:
  1. As part of the development of the next TAPs, each local authority should identify and secure land to be used on a temporary basis for nomadic provision and when not being used as a permanent Transient Halting Site, the land should revert to its normal use. Such temporary transient provision should be made at fairs and other significant events for Travellers immediately. This can be achieved through opening up areas such as fields and providing basic services.
  2. This should be relatively uncomplicated to deliver in each county. For example, a similar pattern already emerges each year during the summer months in regard to nomadic patterns in Co. Mayo. Areas such as Ballyhaunis, Murrisk, Bellmulett, Achill and Knock are visited for their religious significance at certain periods. The feast of the Assumption of Mary on the 15th of August represents an important day and as such Travellers from all over Ireland and England go to the Knock shrine in order to pray to ‘Our Lady’ for sick members of their family.
  3. Each local authority should identify in this TAP for 2009 to 2013, a number of smaller sites that can provide ongoing transit service to Travellers. There is a preference for such transient site provision to be kept small and services basic.
  4. Basic facilities include hard surface, water, toilets and electricity supply. Such provision should be made available to Travellers not normally living in that area for short periods of time.
  5. Private provision or arrangements that Travellers make to provide for themselves should be encouraged and supported. For example, in the past, in two areas Travellers attempted, but failed, to establish transient accommodation for their families and extended family network. Private provision of this kind should be supported by local authorities. Also, where Travellers can make suitable local arrangements on an ad hoc basis with local landowners to meet their specific needs this should also be encouraged.
  6. Each Local Authority should consider and develop a policy regarding the management of transient sites (distinct from the temporary use of land for fairs and other events) which contains some of the following elements:

• Such sites should be open, available and maintained all year round. There should be written agreement between Travellers normally living in that area and the local authority that local Traveller families will not be forced onto these sites if /when they are vacant.
• Such transient site provision should be open on request and closed when nobody is on it but be maintained regularly. A set of rules for the use of sites including a grievance procedure should be developed to ensure clarity for tenants and the local authority.
• The use of a transient site should incur a flat fee per caravan, a deposit and some form of ID required. It is proposed that the level of charge should reflect the quality of facilities on site.
• A maximum length of stay should apply on transient accommodation.
• Residents on transient sites should access electricity supply through the purchase of meter cards.
• There should be an emergency card phone on site for families without mobiles.
• Health, Safety and Sanitary regulations should be enforced and on public display on transient sites.

5 The Irish Traveller Movement

Irish Traveller Movement (ITM) is a national network of organisations and individuals working within the Traveller community. ITM was established in 1990 and has over 80 Traveller organisations from all parts of Ireland in its membership. The Irish Traveller Movement consists of a partnership between Travellers and settled people committed to seeking full equality for Travellers in Irish society. The Irish Traveller Movement was formed to be a national platform through which Travellers and their organisations are enabled to:

For further Information visit www.itmtrav.ie
Irish Traveller Movement