Eileen Flynn (Independent) | Oireachtas source

I know the halting sites at St. Margaret's and Finglas fairly well. There have been issues with the caravans that have been allocated in the halting sites. Some of them already needed a little refurbishing when people were living in them. I know of that. Again, some of the caravans and trailers that are being given to families are not even two or three years old but it is about their quality. My question is nice in that it could be positively answered. What is the solution when it comes to services being provided to halting sites?

Yesterday, I drove to Labre Park. When I looked at it, I said, "Oh my Jesus, it's gone to the dogs". I can talk about that site. I have been to St. Margaret's a few times, which is equally as run down as Labre Park. I got a lump in my throat thinking that things are getting worse for Travellers in halting sites rather than better. That is from me looking at Labre Park yesterday. It is because services are not there for people on the sites, such as bin collections and cleaning up the sites, etc. I have said to many people around this table previously that local authorities even want us as a community to police ourselves in halting sites. What can we do to make people's lives better in halting sites? Not one recommendation of the report, No End in Site, has been implemented. There is safe accommodation for the Traveller community under Clúid housing but, unfortunately, from my perspective in Dublin, I do not know one safe halting site for any child to live in. I absolutely do not know it.