Annual Report 2004.pdf - Equality Authority

the Traveller community (69%). 17 of the24 files involving public housing involvethe ground of race and the Travellercommunity ground.Two significant settlements were reachedin 2004 in relation to the provision ofpublic housing. The first settlementrelated to a Traveller family who had beenon the waiting list with the CountyCouncil for 4 years. They have 12 children.They were forced to live in a caravan onthe side of the road without any facilitiesresulting in a significant detriment to thehealth and education of individual familymembers. Following intervention by theEquality Authority, a 4 bedroom house wasoffered to the family.The second settlement concerned aTraveller who had both physical andintellectual disabilities. She was living insubstandard accommodation in a mobilehome on a site which was constantlyflooded and unsuitable for habitation. Sheapplied for a house near to where hersister lived, which she knew to be vacantfor some time. However despite numerousrequests supported by reports from asocial worker she was not allocatedalternative housing. The Equality Authoritywrote to both councils on behalf of thecomplainant who was subsequentlyoffered the house she had originallyapplied for.An advertisement appeared in TheConnacht Sentinal on 2nd March 2004which was placed by a property lettingagency, City Property Services and read asfollows:“Knocknacarra – Ashleigh Grove: 4bedroom house, no coloured, fullyfurnished”.The Equality Authority wrote to TheConnacht Sentinal and City PropertyServices on 7th April 2004 seeking them tofurnish a full explanation in respect of theadvertisement placed.The Connacht Sentinal responded bysaying that the advertisement was printedin error and they accept that theadvertisement should not have beenpublished. They apologised for any offencethat the advertisement may have caused.City Property Services responded statingthat the placement of the advertisementwas regrettable in the extreme. Theystated that on the day the advertisementbecame public they immediatelyapologised for same and the property inquestion was re-advertised on 9th March2004. They have paid €250 to a charity andhave undertaken to provide equalitytraining for all staff.36 • Equality Authority Annual Report 2004