An extended family of over 50 Roma gypsies encamped on the M50 roundabout at Ballymun are being subjected to racist abuse, a coalition of charities and NGOs claimed today.
Calling for state intervention to help the Rostas family, who have been living in the open for nearly two months, the coalition group says it is seeking immediate action to end what it describes as a "humanitarian crisis".
Sara Russell, Roma co-ordinator with Pavee Point travellers centre told ireland.comthe family is being adversely affected by legislation introduced by the Irish Government prior to Romania joining the EU which prevents them from availing of social welfare assistance. As a result, she says, the Rostas are being forced to live in "horrific conditions".
Sara Russell, Roma co-ordinator with Pavee Point
Romanians are restricted from working in Ireland unless they have a work visa or are self-employed, although they do have freedom of movement within the EU.
Under a "habitual residency" condition of their right to travel to Ireland - introduced by the Government to prevent "welfare tourism" - Romanians and other former accession country nationals are unable to access social welfare unless they can prove they are normally resident in Ireland or plan to remain in the country for a long period of time.
Thirty-two adults and 22 children are currently living on the roundabout without running water, sanitation, adequate heat or shelter and recently, members of the public have visited the site hurling verbal abuse and throwing eggs at the family, Ms Russell said.
"The roundabout is infested with rubbish and vermin and due to the location of the makeshift camp the risk of injury or fatality from a traffic accident is of serious concern. In order to avert a road accident and a public health crisis we are seeking urgent humanitarian intervention," she added.
Ms Russell said the four Dublin local authorities and the HSE homeless persons unit are responsible for providing emergency accommodation for the family.
"These agencies need to act immediately to assist these families in leaving the roundabout and into emergency accommodation," she said.
Ms Russell also insisted the HSE has a statutory obligation under the Child Care Act 1991 to protect and promote the welfare of all the children in the State.