City council’s duty of care to evicted Travellers

WE wish to bring attention to the Traveller accommodation crisis in Waterford. Eleven Traveller families were evicted from Kilbarry halting site by the city council on September 7.

These families are living on the side of the road and include vulnerable and sick children. They face the winter without water, sanitation, electricity and accommodation. A baby girl was born to one of these families last week. She will join her family on the side of the road.

It is time we, as citizens of the Celtic Tiger economy, addressed why basic human rights are being denied Travellers on an ongoing basis. Have we made any progress in our attitudes and behaviour to Travellers in the areas of health, education and human rights?