*Senator Timmy Dooley (FF). Photograph: John Mangan
A CLARE SENATOR has called for laws to be strengthened to stop illegal encampments, following the emergence of a new encampment in Ennis.
For the second time in four months, Clancy Park in Ennis has witnessed the arrival of a new illegal encampment causing major concern and anxiety for residents.
Windows have already been broken in over the past week following the arrival of new caravans into the estate.
Clare County Council inserted blocks into the estate to try limit the influx of further caravans but new arrivals came in after midnight, some of which are blocking driveways. One county councillor told The Clare Echo that the local authority are doing “everything in their power to deal with this”.
Senator Timmy Dooley (FF) told The Clare Echo that stronger laws are needed to prevent illegal encampments. He said there has been a noticeable increase in the amount of unauthorised encampments in the county.
He said, “I’m aware of a rise in the number of illegal encampments, mainly on public land in both private and local authority housing estates in parts of Co Clare. In certain instances, temporary homes have been set up on communal green land in existing housing estates”.
“This practice is very distressing and damaging to the communities in which it takes place. It shows scant regard for the lives for the residents who are affected. These illegal encampments lead to public order issues, anti-social behaviour and public health issues resulting from the lack of sanitary facilities. In many instances the intention by those behind these illegal encampments is an exercise in intimidating both the local authority and local residents. It creates an intolerable burden on the lives of the residents who live nearby.
“Local authorities will have to be empowered to deal with this in a speedier fashion and we have to put an end to the courts being used to frustrate local authorities taking action,” he added.
Senator Dooley said homeowners do not understand how the tents along the canals in Dublin were swiftly removed when it was affecting communities and became a public health issue, but when there are illegal encampments outside of the capital there is no such action taken. “I’ll be calling on the Government to strengthen laws to put an end to these illegal encampments”.
