Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I have raised this issue previously. In fact, I raised it three times in the Dáil before Christmas and I am going to keep pursuing it until I get a resolution. It relates to Travellers who are living in very old caravans that are totally beyond their replacement date. One can imagine what it is like to sleep in one of these caravans on nights like those we have had in recent times. After the Ombudsman raised an issue with the Department, a pilot scheme was brought in but it was totally inadequate. A total of 75 caravans were allocated for the whole country. These caravans are on local authority sites. In Galway city, the allocation was four but there was a demand, need or requirement for 24 caravans. I know that Travellers will not get media coverage or too much sympathy but they are exactly as human as the rest of us. I want to know when this scandal will end.

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