McCreevy under fire over halting site

FINANCE Minister Charlie McCreevy should be more concerned about sorting out the Traveller accommodation problem than representing stud owners opposed to a new halting site, a local councillor said yesterday.

South Dublin County Council (SDCC) representative Robert Dowds was responding to reports that Mr McCreevy had written to the council expressing concerns about the location of a proposed Traveller site near an elite stud farm in Rathcoole, Co Dublin.

“If Charlie McCreevy is concerned about this he should be concerned to sort out the Traveller question and not have people living on the side of the street as we have in various parts of the country,” said Mr Dowds.

The Labour Party councillor added: “This Government, particularly under Environment Minister Martin Cullen, seems to have very little concern to sort out Traveller accommodation issue. I felt under Noel Dempsey, when he was environment minister, that he was far more committed to try and solve this problem.”

Mr McCreevy, who represents Kildare North, made representations on behalf of the Taaffe family, who live in Co Kildare and run the Red Lodge Stud in Rathcoole, Co Dublin.

The stud is one of the country’s top training facilities for thoroughbred horses. The Taaffes, and local residents, fear horses and rubbish from a new halting site, particularly from the emergency accommodation section, could infect thoroughbreds. The proposed site will consist of five emergency accommodation bays to house an extended family from Clondalkin and between six and 12 permanent housing units.

It is the second time in four months Mr McCreevy has made representations for the horse lobby. Last November, it was revealed that he had fast-tracked e15 million of public money to fund Punchestown racecourse in Kildare.

Mr Dowds said Mr McCreevy’s intervention showed how close the finance minister was with the horse industry. However, he said that the issue regarding the location of the halting site was a problematic one.

SDCC are due to discuss the issue today. A spokesman for MrMcCreevy said the minister made representations solely in his capacity as a public representative for the family, who are constituents of his. He said the minister had no involvement in Traveller accommodation policy.

A spokesman for Minister Cullen said the minister was actively engaged in the housing issue, including Traveller accommodation.