Sir, - I have been following with much interest the continuing disputes between local county councils and residents' associations regarding the provision of authorised halting sites for the travelling community. Living in the Knocklyon/Firhouse area of Dublin, an area with two authorised sites, I would like to say, first of all, that both the settled community and the travellers in the halting sites appear to live in harmony, without problems.
However, we do face an increasing occurrence of unauthorised halting on the Firhouse road, and this is not helpful for the cause of the Travellers in attempting to have authorised sites agreed by residents in other areas. In fact, it helps to fuel the argument that even when sites are erected, the county council will not police the numbers of Travellers halting, leading to an overflow into areas where there are no facilities. This, naturally, angers local residents who have already made the concession to the Travellers' lifestyle by agreeing to the provision of authorised sites.
The county council cannot neglect the halting sites or the numbers of Travellers stopping in an area once the site has been erected, and until they do, they will face increasing resistance to the establishment of further sites. Any visitor to the Firhouse road can witness at first hand the situation which South Dublin County Council has allowed to arise in an area with two authorised sites in existence.
This is the third-time since last October that Travellers have stopped illegally on a small area, blocking the footpath and cycle track with their cars and vans. Surely their actions can only help to increase the negative opinion towards other Travellers who successfully use the facilities provided. - Yours, etc.,
Knocklyon, Dublin 16.