Councillors set to sleep in caravans - Ireland

From the Cork Independent

A personal invitation has been requested by local councillor Ken O'Flynn who said he will take up the offer of spending a night at a Northside halting site in an effort to resolve ongoing issues.

Spring Lane halting site, which has been labelled the worst halting site in the country, has hit headlines recently as the residents have begun protesting against council officials who were trying to carry out work on the site.

The residents claim the conditions they are forced to live in on the 10 bay site, which has over 100 child residents, are "cruel" and "inhumane" and they have made a request through the media for local politicians to spend a night on the site and see first hand the suffering they endure on a daily basis.

Fianna Fáil Councillor Ken O'Flynn said he has "spent many a night in a caravan" and would have no problem staying on site - with a few conditions.

Mr O'Flynn said he would stay at the halting site, along with the other councillors in his ward, if the representatives of the Traveller Visibility Group returned to talks with the City Council to find a resolution to the situation.

"No one is denying the conditions on the site, they are unacceptable, but we need to reconvene talks to find a solution to suit everyone."

Disaster

"A humanitarian disaster" is what Project coordinator of the Traveller Visibility Group Chrissie O'Sullivan said regarding the current conditions of the residents at Spring Lane.

Ms O'Sullivan said representatives from the TVG meet with city officials and councillors once a month to discuss the issues facing their community which have been getting worse and worse over the years with little improvement.

"There is no political will to support development and without that drive, no change will happen effectively. The council needs to take responsibility for the issues on the site and recognise the disgraceful conditions people are living in.

"It is hard to understand without experiencing it yourself, but overcrowding is a massive issue and a number of families have made requests to move off the site into a local authority house.

"There are a number of long term and short term solutions needed and we are willing to work with the council to reach the needs of our community." Ms O'Sullivan added.

Sinn Féin Councillor Thomas Gould also said he would have no problem sleeping at the halting site to help show councillor support to the residents and encourage an empathy to their plight.

Mr Gould quoted the novel 'To Kill A Mockingbird' by saying; "You never really understand a person until you consider things from his point of view, until you climb in his skin and walk around in it."

The Sinn Féin councillor said the best way to resolve the situation was compromise on all sides and said:"anything I can do to help resolve the situation, I am willing to do."