Press Releases
............PRESS RELEASE.....11th October 2004............
After a lengthy meeting with Dunsink Traveller representatives yesterday evening Dublin City Council and Fingal County Council agreed to remove the concrete barrier currently located at Ratoath Road and Dunsink lane. A new temporary barrier will be put in place at the same time at a site west of the entrance to the old landfill site. These works will take place within one week.
This new barrier will remain in place until agreed new engineering works are put in place to restrict illegal dumping in the lane. These works will be carried out following full consultation with residents on or near Dunsink lane. All parties agreed a target date of January 2005 for the completion of these works. The parties to the agreement, which included representatives of the Garda Siochana, agreed to work together to resolve other outstanding issues (including policing matters) in the area.
Martin Collins, assistant director of Pavee Point, called for an immediate end to disturbances in the Dunsink area, a plea echoed by all parties to the agreement. "We all need to learn from this experience. An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of intervention. This barrier should never have been erected. It has increased hostility between Travellers and the majority population and fuelled negative media coverage on Traveller issues. We hope the state sector learns from this experience that you must engage with Travellers in issues that affect our lives."
ENDS.
For further information please contact Terry Battles (Information Co-ordinator) on 01 8780255 Ext 103.