Council tells Carrickmines residents they will be on temporary site for six, not eight, months

Dun Laoghaire Rathdown County Council has agreed that members of the travelling community, whose halting site was destroyed in a fire which killed 10 people, will be housed at a temporary site for six months instead of eight.

Council officials have met with local residents who have blocked the temporary site to discuss their concerns.

Following the meeting the Council said in a statement that they reiterated to residents that "the site in question is classified as an emergency site arising specifically from the tragedy and a commitment was also given that it will be decommissioned within six months on completion of the works at the new permanent designated site."

The residents refused to comment on the way into this morning's meeting, and after three hours of talks they left by a back door.

Dublin City Councillor for People before Profit, Brid Smith, says it is outrageous that residents are trying to block the temporary accommodation.

She said: "I would believe that the council would be able, absolutely able and willing to offer assurances.

"I'm on the side of Dun Laoghaire County Council on this, on insisting that they temporarily house the Travellers in the site in Carrickmines while they wait to build the permanent site.

"I think the residents should absolutely accept that, I think it is outrageous that given that the people have not even been buried, that they would try to block the site at this point and time."

This evening, traveller groups are holding a candlelit vigil near the Glenamuck Rd. site of the weekend fire.

This event was planned before the disagreement with locals began.

Organisers say the 7pm event is open to members of the public who are not from the traveller community, even if they are among the residents opposing the family's relocation.