asked the Minister for the Environment if an investigation has been carried out by his Department or by the local authority concerned, of the fire damage caused to the itinerant settlement site of Dublin County Council at Raheen, Clondalkin, County Dublin; and, if not, if he will now direct that such an investigation be carried out.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Itinerant Settlement Fire.
30.
(Dublin South-East): I presume the Deputy is referring to the series of incidents, including fires, which caused damage to chalets at the itinerant settlement at St. Oliver's Park, Raheen, Clondalkin, between December 1980 and April 1981. The fires in question have not been the subject of special investigation by the Department or the local authority but at the request of Dublin Corporation, are being investigated by the Garda Síochána. One case of setting fire to a chalet has been detected and is at present before the courts.
Would the Minister not agree that when fires have taken place at an itinerant halting site, as happened in the case referred to in the question, it is most important that all those incidents are investigated thoroughly to find out who or what is causing the problem in relation to those fires? Would the Minister not agree that failure to do so is liable to leave the settled community with a distrust of the concept of halting sites for travelling people? Would the Minister not agree that those fires should be investigated on every occasion they occur?
(Dublin South-East): I have no doubt whatever that the Garda Síochána are thoroughly investigating the matter. It comes within their particular ambit to conduct such investigations. There is no doubt in my mind that this is actively investigated by the gardaí on a continuous basis.
The reply of the Minister to the original question would not bear out what the Minister is now saying. He must surely agree that there have been a considerable number of incidents over a period of years and no investigation which has taken place has produced any positive result. I think the Minister said in his reply there was only an investigation in one incident. Could the Minister assure the House that henceforth incidents like that will be thouroughly investigated and followed up at the insistence of his Department.
(Dublin South-East): I can certainly give the Deputy every assurance that matters of this kind are investigated.