Oonagh O’Dwyer – Fisheries Local Action Group (FLAG) West meeting report – April 2023
Fisheries Local Action Group (FLAG) West meeting report – April 2023
Date of meeting: 19th April 2023
Date of meeting: 19th April 2023
Clare PPN presented to the LECP working group on 11th September 2023 and to the LCDC on 13th September 2023 on the Pobal funded project to enshrine socio-economic rights and Just Transition principles in the Local Economic and Community Plan (LECP) 2023-2029. This project is being lead by Clare PPN in conjunction with Clare Local Development Company, Limerick Clare Education & Training Board and Clare County Council.
Please click here for a PDF version:
Clare PPN LECP Project Presentation
Clare Public Participation Network (PPN) was concerned and disappointed to see once more in Clare a high level of publicity, social media commentary and intensive engagement from local and national politicians on the issue of an unofficial location being used as a living space by members of a Traveller family. We are disappointed that we never see such concerted effort towards the provision of suitable homes for the Traveller community in Clare.
While housing is a pressing issue for a large percentage of the population (as discussed in our 2022 report ‘Towards an Anti-Poverty Strategy for Clare’ and highlighted again in recent focus groups with those experiencing socio-economic exclusion), the Traveller community faces particular challenges in accessing both public and private accommodation. These challenges include discrimination, marginalisation and difficulty in accessing online services, which has resulted in disproportionate levels of homelessness, overcrowding and the forced occupation of unsuitable sites.
This is compounded in Clare by an apparent refusal on the part of the local authority to use resources available to it for the provision of suitable homes for Travellers. In the last and current Traveller Accommodation Programmes in Clare no new houses, developments or sites were planned or delivered. This is despite the local authority itself indicating that in 2021 more than 50% of those presenting as homeless were from the Traveller community – a community that accounts for less than 1% of the population in the county. This compares poorly even with the already concerning national figure of 11% of those presenting as homeless being from the Traveller community.
In 2021 the Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission (IHREC) published an equality review on the provision of Traveller accommodation by each local authority. The issues that emerged included underspends of allocated funds, poor information gathering and a lack of identification of true accommodation preferences.
Earlier this year (2023) the Council of Europe found that the Irish State continues to be in breach of its human rights obligations to provide culturally appropriate accommodation to Travellers, drawing attention to our repeated failure to meet our own commitments.
In 2022 the Supreme Court overturned an interlocutory injunction that would have evicted a Traveller family who were occupying a Council-owned site in Clare, stating that the Council had “arguably failed” to meet their duty to offer suitable alternative accommodation. It is no surprise that a policy of evicting Travellers from one unsuitable site to another has failed everyone – as noted in a recent report from the Jesuit Centre for Faith and Justice, ‘Where are Travellers meant to live?’ Where are Travellers meant to live? – Jesuit Centre for Faith and Justice in Ireland (jcfj.ie)
Further to this, as part of its commentary on Clare’s Draft County Development Plan, the Office of the Planning Regulator noted the failure by Clare County Council to identify or zone ANY particular areas for Traveller accommodation in the plan and made a recommendation that this should be rectified before adoption of the plan.
On a more positive note, Clare PPN/CSN has welcomed progress made by Clare Traveller Community Development Project in gaining agreement from the local authority for a comprehensive, county-wide, peer-led Traveller Housing Needs Assessment to be carried out – this is badly needed to ensure that Travellers themselves can have the time and space to discuss what is needed and what is suitable for their families. Once this has been concluded we need to make sure the commitment is there from the local authority to ensure the provision of these homes and that the work to deliver, purchase or allocated them is done as a priority. We reiterate that substantial funds ARE available from national government for this work – what has been missing is the necessary commitment to get it done.
We call for this work and this approach to be supported by all in the county, especially including elected representative and anyone in leadership positions in community organisations and our wider communities themselves. We hope that this new approach marks a change for the Traveller community in Clare, with new generations able to experience stability, security and a sense of belonging to the wider community, without losing or abandoning their precious and significant Traveller culture and heritage. We are calling on our local authority and elected representatives to stop objecting to Traveller accommodation and to begin advocating for it.
Supporting this statement are the following community groups in Clare:
– Party in Ennis at 4pm on Saturday 5th August to feature drumming workshop, Kizomba dancing, Nepalese music, DJ and ‘pot luck’ meal –
The organisers of a ‘Solidarity Shindig’ in Ennis this Bank Holiday Saturday say it will be an opportunity for people in Clare to meet and get to know some of the Banner County’s newest residents, including people seeking International Protection.
The party, from 4pm-7pm this Saturday 5th August, will include a drumming workshop with West Clare musician Brian Fleming, Kizomba dancing, Nepalese traditional music and a DJ. Food will be served, and people are encouraged to bring their own food to share, ‘pot luck’ style.
People from across Clare are invited to attend the party at Unit 7, Tracklands Business Park, V95 K6F6.
Sarah Clancy, co-ordinator of the Clare Public Participation Network, one of 12 groups involved in the event, said:
“This party is a way of saying ‘Welcome’, but it also a great opportunity for people to get to know some of Clare’s newest residents. Those of us involved in the various groups behind this event have enjoyed getting to know many of these new arrivals in recent years.
“We’re aware that many people in Clare haven’t had the chance to meet new members of their community. This event will be one opportunity to get to know people who can make a great contribution to the local communities they are joining.”
The Solidarity Shindig follows a successful event in Miltown Malbay recently at which about 60 local people welcomed new arrivals to the Central Hostel in the West Clare town.
This Saturday, residents from Direct Provision centres across Clare will gather to meet with representatives of MASI – the Movement of Asylum Seekers in Ireland. Following this meeting, the Solidarity Shindig will begin at 4pm.
The event is supported by Clare Immigrant Support Centre, Clare Leader Forum, Clare Local Development Company, Clare PPN, Clare Solidarity Network, Clare Traveller CDP, CATU Clare, Fáilte Isteach Clare, Mna Ag Gaire, the Movement of Asylum Seekers in Ireland, Quare Clare LGBTQ+ and Women’s Collective Ireland Clare.
If you would like to see what Clare PPN has been up to in the last quarter, please click: