Dessie Ellis (Dublin North West, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

The Ombudsman for Children issued a damning report in May 2021, which said that the rights of Traveller children were being violated at the Spring Lane halting site in Cork. The report details what was described as failure after failure to improve living conditions, with children being left in filthy, overcrowded, rat infested, cold and damp living conditions. It was concerning to say the least that families and young children were living in such atrocious and unsafe conditions. The site required a radical overhaul and extensive refurbishment as a matter of urgency, particularly with regard to washing and toilet facilities and living facilities. The Joint Committee on Key Issues affecting the Traveller Community visited the site last year. As a member of the committee on that visit, I can confirm that many of the issues highlighted in the report and raised by the local Traveller community were witnessed by me and by the other members of the committee.

Additionally, the report found that the implementation of Traveller accommodation plans had been discriminatory and unfair. We were assured at the time at a meeting with Cork City Council that these issues would be dealt with and it is disappointing that many of these serious issues have not been properly addressed. The outstanding issues need to be addressed as a matter of urgency. At the time, Cork City Council said it would have the system independently equality-proofed in autumn but that does not seem to have happened either. Excuses were made as to the reasons why it did not meet its targets, blaming weather, security events and lengthy court proceedings. It is simply not acceptable. We need action.

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