Council identifies need to house 153 Traveller families in next five years

CORK County Council has identified the need to house 153 Traveller families in the next five years, according to a report compiled by its officials.

County councillors will discuss the ambitious report at a special meeting in the next fortnight, which will focus on where and in what types of accommodation the Travellers will be put.

According to the report, 99 families will require local authority homes, of which 46 will be in north Cork, a further 33 in south Cork and 20 in the west of the county. It is also envisaged that 14 permanent halting sites will be needed in the south Cork area with two each in the west and north of the county.

To cater for Travellers who move into the region on a seasonal basis, 12 transient halting sites will be developed around the county. Following a detailed assessment of the Traveller population last October, it was highlighted that the Southern Division area (which covers east and south Cork) had the highest number of indigenous Traveller families with 48.

In addition, the report projected the number of new Traveller families up to 2008. More than half of those 63 new families will be situated in north Cork.

The council says it recognises the distinct requirements of Travellers in relation to accommodation and is willing to provide them with a wide range of options, including one-off local authority homes or even group housing. In addition, it will examine schemes including social housing, shared ownership and affordable housing.

Funding for the project is expected to come directly from the Department of the Environment and Local Government. Council social workers and housing staff in each of Cork’s three divisions will deal with the implementation of the report.

Officials will liaise with LTAC’s (Local Traveller Accommodations Committees) which will include public representatives and members of the Travelling community. The report also says the council will deal with unauthorised encampments through a number of acts. Traveller Visibility Group project co-ordinator Chrissie O’Sullivan said she hoped it wouldn’t be just another report.

“We want to see clear achievable targets. That will be our main priority,” said Ms O’Sullivan.