Profile of the Traveller Population in North Fingal

The Fingal area has a fast growing Traveller population with the third highest rate of births in Ireland and one of the youngest populations of all the counties of Ireland. The Traveller population within North Fingal is also growing.

Based on the local authority statistics (2003 census) there are 106 plus Traveller families in the North Fingal area. These are estimated figures. Large numbers of Traveller families have taken up residence within North Fingal . This causes concern when working on identifying families as Travellers. People have a number o f reasons as to non-identification.

Traveller Locations:

Swords

• Forrest Little lower /upper
• Lissenhall
• Standard housing
• The side of the road at predictable times, Summer / Christmas

Balbriggan

• Gardiner Hill
• Matt Lane
• Bog of the Ring
• Standard housing
• Private rented sector (25-30 families)

Rush, Lusk, Skerries, Donabate

• A number of Traveller families in standard housing
• Ballyboughal
• Garristown