Sir, - I agree with the suggestions of Nicholas O'Brien, chairperson of MEAS, in his letter of March 19th. If local authorities did not locate halting sites on lands zoned for open space amenity and recreational use, land for which development has already been refused if halting sites were to come under planning laws, and if the settled community were to have representation in Traveller accommodation needs, all the hype of racism and hardened attitudes, as expressed by Minister Mervyn Taylor, would be dispelled.
Unfortunately, the Government intends to zone all lands for halting sites, give county managers executive powers to zone any land they see fit, and make halting sites a specific objective in draft development plans. If the Government is serious in its commitment to solving Traveller accommodation, this is simply not the way to go. - Yours, etc.,
Treasurer,
Dodder Residents' Association,
Rathfarnham,
Dublin 14.