City chief to take tough stance over Traveller hardstands

Brendan McGrath reiterated this week that he will use emergency powers to build new group housing and halting sites for city Travellers if elected members fail to discharge their statutory duty.

The Chief Executive of Galway City Council said it was not his style to railroad through proposals against the wishes of councillors but he said he would do so reluctantly if the mid-term review of the Traveller Accommodation Programme isn’t approved.

Councillors deferred making a decision about the review until a meeting on March 6, in order to get legal advice, and if they fail to discharge their duty in relation to the TAP, then he will use emergency powers.

Pushed by Fianna Fáil’s Mike Crowe, to outline when was “D-Day” for using emergency powers, Mr McGrath was not definitive.

He said he wasn’t going to “kick the can down the road until the end of the year” and would act within a “number of months” of the March meeting.

Mr McGrath repeated his wish to work with councillors to reach agreement, rather than having to impose a solution, although he noted that some members might actually prefer if he made the decision for them.

During debate on the mid-term review of the Traveller Accommodation Programme, Senior Executive Officer, Dermot Mahon, outlined plans for five new halting sites at Keeraun in Knocknacarra, Westside, Headford Road, Ballybane (Coillte Mhurlinne) and Oranmore (Carrowmoneash).

He said he cannot make an omelette without breaking eggs; and pointed out that every city councillor wanted the problem solved, but none of them wanted a halting site in their electoral area.

Read extensive coverage of the debate on the Traveller Accommodation Plan in this week’s Galway City Tribune.
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