COMHAIRLE CONTAE ÁTHA CLIATH THEAS
SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL

South Dublin County Council Crest

MEETING OF LUCAN AREA COMMITTEE

Tuesday, February 26, 2019

MOTION NO. 12

MOTION: Councillor G. O'Connell

That this Area Committee, being very concerned at the plight of Traveller families who have very little or no option except to set up temporary camps in unauthorised locations and without essential supportive services in this LAC, often with consequential detrimental effects on local residential areas, calls for a report from the Chief Executive on how he has/intends to deal with or provide for such situations in a manner that respects both the rights and intentions of Travellers to move from place to place in an orderly manner and the rights of people who want to live in regulated and environmentally sustainable permanent communities and who on a voluntary basis are often prepared to form Tidy Towns Groups to enhance their areas. 

REPORT:

Under the provisions of the Traveller Accommodation Act 1998, South Dublin County Council is required to prepare, adopt and implement a Traveller Accommodation Programme (TAP) to meet the accommodation needs of the county’s indigenous Traveller Community, i.e. those families who have been resident in the county for at least three years prior to the adoption of South Dublin County Council’s Traveller Accommodation Programme.

The existing programme, which took effect on the 1st January 2014,will expire on 30th June 2019.The new Traveller Accommodation Programme will commence, with effect from the 1st July 2019 to 30th June 2024. In accordance with the guidelines, each TAP requires that a statement of policy be included in relation to meeting the accommodation needs based on the assessment of need which was carried out in late 2018.

South Dublin County Council's policy regarding Transient sites as stated in our current TAP outlines 'the main focus of South Dublin County Council will be to meet the projected need for permanent accommodation for Travellers and that the provision of transient sites should be addressed when that demand for permanent accommodation is realized and in conjunction with the other Dublin local authorities.