asked the Minister for Local Government what steps have been taken by Dublin Corporation to furnish suitable alternative camping sites or needed basic amenities on existing sites for itinerants living within the city boundaries.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Camping Sites for Itinerants.
9.
Dublin Corporation has, in the absence of specific statutory authority, taken no steps to provide camping sites or amenities for itinerants. The question of such statutory authority is being considered by the Departments concerned in conjunction with the other recommendations of the Commission on Itinerancy.
Is the Minister aware that the Corporation, whatever the reason is, make life intolerable for these unfortunate people? While they are waiting for a decision giving them whatever statutory authority they require, would the Minister take some steps to ensure that they will leave these people alone and provide for them the basic amenities they require until something is done by somebody for them?
I shall pass the Deputy's observations on to the Corporation.
Does the Minister not appreciate that there are women and children involved? If these people are moved out of the Dublin area, which appears to be the proposal, then other local authorities will do the same; these people will be harried around the whole of Ireland and life will become intolerable for them. They are human beings and they have certain rights under the Constitution.
I am aware of the problem. I am also aware, like the Deputy, that they are human beings. For the moment I can only pass on what has been said by the Deputy. That I propose to do.
Does the Minister not agree there is a certain measure of hypocrisy in the Corporation's attitude when they suggest that their main objections are on the grounds of insanitary and unhygienic arrangements when, in fact, many of their own tenants live in conditions in which they have neither running water nor toilet facilities and, if they were to apply the same standards for all the citizens of Dublin, they would be evicting thousands of people? They appear to have a special animus towards these unfortunate people.