Sir, - Fintan Farrell (July 2nd) is incorrect in stating that I deny travellers the right to live on halting sites. My objection is to permanent occupation. Halting sites are only a marginal improvement for roadside travellers while awaiting houses. Basically, they provide toilets, sinks and hard stands for trailer caravans. Caravans are grossly substandard facilities for year round living, especially for families. Why should we as a nation subject the traveller community to permanent living under such substandard conditions?
The life style of travellers has evolved over time from the shelter of flat-bottomed carts and canvas tents beside ditches, through the barrel-top horse trailer, to motorisation with trailer van, onto permanent housing.
Nothing less than houses should be requested by and provided for urbanised travellers. It would appear that Fintan Farrell and some members of the Task Force wish to perpetuate substandard conditions for travellers. I repeat that travellers' distinctive culture can be maintained from houses like that of other cultural and religious minorities. Urbanisation leads to integration but not assimilation, except when chosen by travellers.
Activities of the general community are subject to numerous restrictions, especially the planning laws. Indeed, part of the Sanitary Services Act, 1948 arose from the need to control the growing blight of temporary dwellings and shanties mainly by the seaside. Those persons advocating free choice for urban travellers must accept restrictions.
The number of 1,127 by the roadside in 1997, quoted in your editorial of June 24th is greater than the 1,024 recorded by the Commission in 1961. Clearly, successive governments and local authorities have failed to eliminate the substandard living conditions of travellers. The authorities should implement the recommendations on housing in the Report of the Travelling People Review Body - standard houses similar in layout to other local authority houses, and not ghettos of distinctive design. - Yours, etc., Michael P. Flynn,
Ballinderry, Mullingar.