Clare FM

Clare Traveller Development claims some members of the travelling community in this county are living in "third world conditions". It comes as Clare County Council is preparing its Draft Traveller Accommodation Programme for the period of 2025 to 2029. Under the Traveller Accommodation Act of 1998, each local authority is required to carry out a regular assessment of the existing and projected housing needs of members of the travelling community. Census 2022 found that travellers make up just under 8% of the total population of Clare, while the total number of travellers in the county increased by 9% since the previous Census. The most recent Traveller Accommodation Programme identified that 42 families in Clare were sharing with relatives, 12 were living in unauthorised sites, four were in emergency accommodation and 35 were living in private rental properties through HAP supports. Clare's Homeless Action team has also noted that in the last month, it has seen a "further increase" in the number of households presenting from the travelling community. Bridgie Casey of Clare Traveller Development says serious improvements are needed in terms of the provision of adequate traveller accommodation in this county. Public consultation for the Traveller Accommodation Programme 2025-29 is expected to take place in July and August of this year, with the plan to be rolled out next January. The local authority has faced criticism in the past for its management of traveller accommodation, with a recent report by the Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission calling on the council to identify and develop "culturally specific responses to the needs of travellers experiencing homelessness". Acting Senior Executive Officer of the Social Development Directorate of Clare County Council, Padraig Mac Cormaic insists that great strides have been made, and will continue to be made, in spite of obstacles.