Press Releases
............PRESS RELEASE.....5th October 2004............
This morning at approximately 8.30am Dublin City Council erected two large concrete boulders, blocking access to and from Dunsink Lane in Finglas. Approximately 80 Traveller families live in Dunsink Lane, comprising of roughly 400 individuals, who now have no access to Finglas village, its amenities, shops, schools, churches, or GPs. Dunsink Lane includes two residential areas which have been provided by Dublin City Council and which are managed by Dublin City Council.
"The erection of these boulders is totally unjustified, unacceptable, appalling and in our view racist," says Pavee Point Assistant Director Martin Collins. "It creates huge hardship for residents trying to get young children to and from school. Neither Traveller families living in the area or Traveller organisations were consulted or notified prior to the erection of these boulders. It has come as a total shock".
Dublin City Council and Traveller organisations have engaged constructively on a range of issues in the past. Pavee Point recognises the problem of illegal dumping and welcomes constructive dialogue with Dublin City Council on this issue. It is a great disappointment that on this occasion Dublin City Council did not see fit to engage in talks with Travellers or Traveller organisations on the issue of illegal dumping in the area prior to erecting these boulders.
There is only one access route into Dunsink Lane from the Finglas side which has now been blocked, creating a barrier which cordons off part of the Traveller community from the rest of the population. This disproportionate response by Dublin City Council, punishing over 80 families, completely flies in the face of integration and peaceful coexistence between both communities.
The Traveller residents in the area will be mounting a protest every morning until these monuments to racism are removed.
ENDS.
For further information contact Martin Collins on 01 8780255.