Dáil Committee told of ‘appalling’ conditions in Kilbarry Halting site - The Munster Express

Dáil Committee told of ‘appalling’ conditions in Kilbarry Halting site General Stories The Munster Express

It has long been known that conditions on the Kilbarry Halting Site fall far below modern housing standards. Previous attempts to raise living conditions have not been successful.

Recently, a Joint Committee in the Dail heard from Ms Mary Connors Aldridge, CEO of Minceiri Port Lairge, that the Kilbarry halting site remains desperately overcrowded with ‘dismal’ conditions that are destroying the physical and mental health of those who live there.

“In Waterford in particular, we have two sites that have been for a very long time in dismal, appalling condition, and families have been left to live in them,” she told the Dáil Committee.

“Kilbarry is over 40 years old. It started off as only a site for caravans, then some units were put in, and over time they have evolved into what we would consider houses where families are living, but they were never purposely built.

“We have conditions now where families have one door, no back exit and dismal mould infestations,” she added.

“Since the TAP has started, and since our organisation has been in situ in the eighties, there has been a call for development on this. TAP after TAP, year after year, there has been no progression.”

“Despite several consultations over the years with the residents and hopes and dreams built and children born and reared and now having their own children left in these conditions. In addition, unfortunately, children who were born and reared have died without ever having the experience of being able to go into a room and close their door because their lifelong living has been in sharing rooms with seven, eight or 12 siblings and parents.

Ms Connors Aldridge did acknowledge that efforts were being made to improve the lives of travellers in Ireland but suggested these improvements have not yet reached Kilbarry in Waterford.

“To date, those families are left in dismal conditions,” she continued.

“We have lost children. People are suffering with mental health and every other impact possible. As noted already, there has been a lot of progression around Traveller education, employment and other health areas but if a person’s home and foundations are not solid, then they are on rocky ground. There is always a risk.

“Despite all the work of the Traveller organisations and professionals, including the work that individuals do, if someone’s home is gone tomorrow, they are brought back to point zero. Contextually, it is important.

“It goes back to the point made here that when we are talking about figures and statistics, we are talking about hundreds of thousands of families and children who have a human right. They have a fundamental right to safety and privacy.

AARON KENT Funded by the Local Democracy Reporting Scheme - Munster Express Submit a Comment Cancel reply Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

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