COMHAIRLE CONTAE ÁTHA CLIATH THEAS
SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL

MEETING OF RATHFARNHAM/TEMPLEOGUE/FIRHOUSE/BOHERNABREENA AREA COMMITTEE

Tuesday, May 12, 2020

QUESTION NO. 3

QUESTION: Councillor Mary Seery-Kearney

What provisions have the Council put in place to alleviate the close quarters accommodation that arise particularly amongst some families in the Travellers in Owendoher during the Covid 19 crisis?

REPLY:

Owendoher Haven consists of 8-day units with bays and 1 House with all units currently allocated by licence/tenancy agreements. Under the COVID 19 emergency several measures have been introduced to reduce the spread of COVID 19 and lessen the risk of infection.

The Council in partnership with Tallaght Traveller Development Group (TTDG) have implemented a number of measures including the distribution of a Traveller Specific COVID 19 information leaflet and the installation of ‘Social Distancing’ signage at the location. A Hygiene/Sanitation pack was also provided to all residents. Arrangements are also currently being made to provide a skip at the site for extra refuse collection.

Due the configuration of this site, it is not possible to provide additional units for those bays that are overcrowded. The Council is however available to work with these families on the housing list and TTDG to discuss alternative accommodation options/social housing supports.

The Council has previously engaged with the residents regarding the redevelopment of the site and the construction of 8 new Traveller specific houses and the refurbishment of the existing house but due to a lack of consensus amongst the residents we have been unable to make progress. We are however hopeful that once the COVID 19 restrictions have been relaxed that we will recommence discussions and bring this development to Part 8.