Mayo Traveller family say that they are being put through “mental torture” trying to get basic facilities from their local authority who cut contact with the family back in 2004
A Traveller family, which includes 17 children, have recently spoken out about their experience with Mayo County Council in trying to get housing and basic facilities; describing it as “mental torture”. The family first applied for ‘group housing’ back in 2000 when their family was much smaller. They were engaged in conversations and negotiations with the council for the first few years but at some point, in 2004, all contact ceased and the family were not given any reason for it.
The family recalled one verbal offer of housing that came forward but the house was located in an estate where another Traveller family lived and because of the bad relationship between the two families, they wanted to avoid the “backlash” and thus, turned down the offer. They had asked the council if they could be put somewhere else instead but the council refused.
A spokesperson for the council has said that: “although several accommodation proposals have been put to the families, to date no agreement has been reached”. However, retired solicitor, Kevin Brophy, who is supporting the family, says that an offer in writing is yet to be made by the council.
Currently, the family are living on a 1.2-acre site off the Moneen Road in Castlebar with no running water nor a secure electricity supply. They stated that: “to wash ourselves we either heat water in kettles to fill a bath or go to the swimming pool when it’s open for a shower... in the wintertime, getting ready for school, we have to use battery lights or a torch. The family have had to live in these conditions for the last 20 years.
To make matters worse, they were only provided with a second portaloo last year and this is to be shared by 17 children and 2 adults. This followed a direction from the Department of Housing to local authorities to provide basic sanitation to all Traveller sites to help prevent the spread of the Covid-19 infection. The family continue to rent the first portaloo at €50 a week.
It remains the family’s preference for ‘group housing’ however no new group housing is planned for Co. Mayo, according to the council’s Traveller Accommodation Programme for 2019-2024.
The Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission have criticized the council arguing that it does not have “a robust and transparent system to capture, assess, record, track overtime and independently verify the accommodation preferences of Travellers.”
A spokesperson for the council has said that: “the issue of Traveller accommodation is something which Mayo County Council takes very seriously. The council will continue to work tirelessly to ensure that successful outcomes are reached both now and in the future.”
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