Council to provide over 100 units for Travellers

Tipperary Co Council is to provide 110 units of accommodation for Travellers over the next five years.

The council’s draft Traveller Accommodation Plan (TAP) 2025-2029 was presented to local representatives earlier this month. It mentions an increase in younger Traveller families seeking assistance from the council.

“There is a large cohort of young Travellers who are either eligible or will be eligible for housing by the end of the TAP,” the draft plan states. “This represents a serious challenge for the county council into the future.”

The Annual Count of Traveller Families at November 2023 identified 437 Traveller households in Tipperary. The census for 2022 showed that there was a Traveller population of 1,434 in Tipperary - 724 females and 710 males.

Tipperary Council provided some 146 units of accommodation for Travellers between 2019 and 2024. This included standard housing (including Rental Accommodation Scheme and leased properties), group housing as well as halting site and single rural dwellings. Among the local projects undertaken were five extensions to the existing accommodation at Parkmore Halting Site in Roscrea; extension of a Tigín at Ashbury Halting Site, Roscrea, and the purchase and renovation of a property at Nenagh.

During the course of the next TAP, the council plans to extend the Tigíns to add bedrooms at Ballyvillane Halting Site, Nenagh, among other works elsewhere around the county.

In accordance with the Housing (Traveller Accommodation) Act, the council has also committed to undertaking research to explore the need and feasibility of a transient site in Tipperary.

923 TRAVELLER CHILDREN

The council’s assessment of need estimates that there are 923 Traveller children living in Tipperary under the age of 18. Between the start and the end of the TAP, an estimated 210 of the children will be 18 or over.

The council proposes to house 21 new families during the term of the TAP. The overall target is an additional 110 units of accommodation to be provided for existing and new family households – along similar lines as the previous five-year plan – with an annual target of 22 units.

The council expects that new Traveller families in Tipperary will be formed during the life of the programme.

Reacting to the plan at last week’s meeting of the council, Cllr Séamie Morris called for a multi-agency meeting on Travellers. This should include the likes of the council, gardaí, Dept of Social Welfare and Traveller representative group Pavee Point.

‘INCREDIBLE DAMAGE’ IN NENAGH

Cllr Morris referenced a number of recent incidents in Nenagh where transient families moved into private sites and caused “incredible damage”. This included littering and intimidation of local people.

It took “some coaxing” to move the encampments on, Cllr Morris said, adding that a number of state agencies had to get involved.

Those at fault were “causing chaos”, breaking into other sites after being moved on. Cllr Morris said the problems that beset Nenagh could not be tolerated and would have to be taken into consideration in the council’s TAP.

Cllr Liam Browne rejected the plan, calling for far greater discussion of the matter. He observed that Travellers account for less than 1% of the population in Tipperary yet had 10% of the council’s housing stock set aside for them.“I don’t think it’s fair,” Cllr Browne said, mentioning the number of people he is working with in trying to find houses. This included a Traveller family with 10 children. He was of the view that a lot of Traveller accommodation policies are put in place by people who have never met Travellers.

Acting Director of Services Jonathan Cooney said the council has a Traveller Accommodation Consultative Committee that meets quarterly. It is seeking to set up an inter-agency group in 2025.

The preparation of the TAP involved a public consultation process. Seven submissions were received. Members of the Traveller community were invited to attend a workshop but there was a very small attendance. The council was, however, maintaining ongoing interaction with the community through its housing officers.

Cllr Browne said Traveller accommodation appears to be concentrated in large towns. These towns should be properly resourced, he said.

Mr Cooney said Travellers can determine their choice of location, like any social housing applicant. There are constraints over where they can be accommodated but the council has a statutory obligation to provide them with housing.