Councillors in Kerry yesterday voted to close the county's only emergency halting site for Travellers. They claimed the halting site, which had been operating for five years on the Killarney to Tralee road, was "not fit for human habitation".
Councillor Brendan Cronin (Ind) said the site at Brennan's Glen, alongside a national primary route, was dangerous. It was a traffic hazard, and not fit for human habitation.
"I asked for a health and safety report from the council but there is none. The site has no septic tank, no proper toilets, it is not fit for human habitation."
Mr Cronin also claimed Travellers illegally parked in housing estates in Killarney were being moved to the site in "an unwritten policy".
According to a report by the county council, the halting site became available as a result of road-widening works. It was used as a chip-storage dump for a number of years, and used from time to time by caravan owners who parked there for short periods.
For the past five years it had been used as an emergency halting site for Travellers after serious difficulties arose due to the illegal parking of caravans in a number of areas.
Council official John Breen said chemical toilets, a water supply, public lighting and refuse collection were provided. It had been occupied by up to three family units or single persons for short periods. At present there were two family units at Brennan's Glen, including a young couple with a baby.
He said nine months was the longest stay on the site.
County manager Martin Riordan insisted the site was fit for human habitation. "This is a site for emergency cases and it has worked well over the years . . . If you want to close it, come up with an alternative," Mr Riordan told councillors.
The councillors voted by 14 votes to four to close the site. Four members abstained and five were absent.
Fine Gael councillor Pat McCarthy, who voted for closure, said: "The big problem I see with the site is it's in a very rural setting."
He has asked that facilities in Killarney's Deer Park be upgraded for emergency accommodation.
The council has no transient sites and no plans for any. It operates four halting sites on a permanent basis prior to housing Travellers. Two of these are in Tralee and two in Killarney.