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New approach needed to avoid another tragedy
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On the anniversary of the Carrickmines fire tragedy Martin Collins, Co Director at Pavee Point, has called for an increase in funding in this year’s budget for Traveller accommodation and a new approach to help avoid another tragedy.
“We still have 1,300 Traveller families – approximately 7,000 people who are living in sub-standard, unsafe accommodation right across this country,” he said.
“We have to fight very hard t make sure that Travellers and Traveller accommodation stays on the agenda.
“If you look at the narrative around the national housing crisis, it’s predominantly spoken about in relation to settled people and Travellers have become almost invisible. But it’s Travellers who are living without access to water, electricity and sewage facilities.
“It’s an ongoing struggle but that’s what we’re faced with. There are other Carrickmines out there waiting to happen,” Mr. Collins said.
“Successive governments have been putting pressure on local authorities about the housing crisis. But I’ll be frank – we don’t see that kind of enthusiasm and commitment when it comes to Traveller accommodation. It’s a hands-off approach.
“We need a new approach because the present structures are totally ineffective,” said Mr. Collins. “We need an acknowledgement of Traveller ethnicity and the proper resources in health, education and accommodation to ensure our community has equal outcomes to the majority population.”
Masses
Masses remembering the 10 people and one unborn child who died in the Carrickmines fire tragedy in October 2015 took place in Sandyford and Bray.
10/10/2016 Flowers at Glenamuck Road to Commemorate the victims of the Carrickmines halting site fire that claimed ten lives. Photo: Gareth Chaney Collins
The masses commemorated Thomas Connors, 27, his wife Sylvia (née Lynch), 30, and their three children, Jim, 5, Christy, 3, and six-month-old Mary; Sylvia’s brother, Willy Lynch, 25, his partner Tara Gilbert, 27, who was pregnant at the time of the fire, her daughter Jodie Gilbert, 9, and their daughter Kelsey, 4; and Jimmy Lynch, 39, Willy and Sylvia’s brother.
The Masses were followed by Blessings of the graves of the Lynch and Gilbert families in Bray and Wexford.
Candlelight Vigil
National Traveller organisations held a candlelight vigil in commemoration of the Carrickmines fire tragedy outside Dáil Eireann at 7pm on 10th of October.
