€672,000 spent on 24-hour security at Traveller housing project

The State spent just over €672,000 providing 24-hour security during the construction of a state-of-the-art Traveller housing project in Cork City, it has emerged.

The figure, the equivalent of about €1,800 a day, covered the cost of providing private security contractors and paying non-public overtime to maintain a round-the-clock garda presence at the €5m St Anthony’s Park group housing scheme in Hollyhill, on the northside of the city, which opened last June.

The security bill was described as “unprecedented” by the city council’s head of housing, Valerie O’Sullivan.

“It was a total drain on resources which we could have been spending elsewhere on a range of other worthy projects,” she said.

The cost of the security emerged in response to a question from Sinn Féin councillor Mick Nugent, who sought details on what funds were available for Traveller accommodation projects in the city council area in 2015 and 2016.

Work on the housing scheme started in summer 2015 to replace the cramped city-run St Anthony’s Park 12-bay halting site close to Apple’s European headquarters.

However, soon after work started, gardaí had to be deployed at the building site after claims of threats and intimidation being directed at construction and city council workers.

The Traveller Visibility Group said last year that it had no knowledge of any alleged threats or intimidation and it accused gardaí and the city council of racial profiling over the policing of the site, and following the installation of CCTV cameras outside.

In April 2015, it emerged that the security operation to date had cost some €300,000. However, has now emerged that the total security bill for the entire construction period topped €672,000.

The housing scheme is on an almost two-acre site — almost three times the size of the old halting site.

It has seven one-bed bungalows, three three-bed houses, three four-bed houses, and nine bays for caravans.

The caravan bays are each equipped with a stand-alone welfare unit which includes a kitchen/dining area, a living area, a utility room, a bathroom, and storage space.

The development features solar panels and stoves with back boilers to maximise energy efficiency, built-in wardrobes, fully-fitted kitchens, and wooden flooring. A grotto and two large green areas for recreational and play purposes were also provided.

Travellers initially refused to relocate in a stand-off over horses and other issues, but they eventually agreed to move in on June 15, 2015.

Bishop John Buckley blessed the site and urged residents to respect the facilities. However, vandalism delayed the opening of a new community centre built on site. The centre was repaired but has been vandalised again, and forced to close. City officials are now assessing the cost of those repairs.

Editorial: 12