‘Stop playing footsie’ over transient groups

Tipperary Co Council has been called on to take a tougher stance over transient groups setting up encampments around Nenagh. Raising the matter at this month's meeting of Nenagh Municipal District, Cllr John Carroll mentioned a number of sites that have become regularly used by such groups to park caravans, motorhomes and other vehicles for days or weeks at a time.

The sites included Castlecranna, Carrigatoher, Lisboney and Stereame. The individuals in question did not have permission to park at those sites and had in some cases damaged property in order to gain access, Cllr Carroll said. “Our local community is getting extremely agitated,” he told the meeting, adding that the council and gardaí “don't seem to be able to do anything”.

Raising the matter in the presence of the council's environment executive, Cllr Carroll said the issue is of environmental concern because the people involved are dumping rubbish and polluting water courses. They are also lighting fires, while the proximity of encampments to the motorway should also be a concern, Cllr Carroll said.

If someone lived in a house in such areas without a septic tank, they would receive a “strongly-worded letter” from the council's environment section. But six or seven caravans could occupy a site for weeks with seemingly no punity, Cllr Carroll fumed, asking whether the encampments had been inspected by the local authority and what was the outcome.

TARGET SOCIAL WELFARE

In support, Cllr Séamie Morris observed that much of the environment discussion at the meeting focussed on fly-tipping of rubbish and how to catch the perpetrators.

“We're watching it happen,” he said of the sites used by transient groups in Nenagh. He mentioned the costs incurred by the State in cleaning up sites after the groups left and suggested that these costs should be recouped from the social welfare of those responsible.

“We've got to stop playing footsie with this,” Cllr Morris told the meeting. “I think that as a council, what we have to do is stand up about it.”

He called for a multi-agency meeting on the matter and said he would very much like Traveller representative body Pavee Point to be part of it.

Senior Executive Officer Michael Moroney said the issue does concern several agencies. He would follow up on the site inspections with the environment team.

Cllr Carroll said the council's tenant liaison officer had a role where housing issues were involved. There had to also be an environment concern for the council in situations where people are living beside the sites used by transient groups, he argued. “It's frightening to see what's going on,” Cllr Carroll exclaimed, adding that he would be bringing the matter to a full meeting of Tipperary Co Council.