The national Office of the Planning Regulator says it should, but the council’s chief executive says Traveller homes can be built on any residentially zoned land.
F or many decades now Traveller accommodation has needed attention, but up until recently it has been widely ignored and brushed under the carpet by those with the power and ability to make changes, writes artist Leanne McDonagh.
The state has long been criticised for its use of these notices, and the lack of oversight in how they are issued – particularly in a climate of poor housing and site provision for Travellers.
At a busy meeting on Monday, Dublin city councillors drilled into how the council will fund big projects in the coming few years, voted not to rescind plans for O’Devaney Gardens, and more.
Plans to build Traveller accommodation on land on Mount Anville Road date back more than 30 years, but no construction has ever started. A recent valuation has muddied the waters even more.
At this month’s housing committee meeting, councillors discussed the idea of tearing down thousands of homes in aging social-housing complexes and replacing them with new builds, among other issues.
But still, nobody will fess up to being responsible for the poor conditions in the first place: mildew-caked ceilings, exposed electrical wires and damp.
