The run-up to the local elections has seen racism and prejudice being "stoked up" against the Travelling community, but all and any instances of such attitudes "need to be challenged".
This is the view of People Before Profit Galway City Central candidate Joe Loughnane. He noted that there has been "much comment" in recent weeks about conditions in the Fana Glas estate in Ballybane and the number of Traveller caravans which have moved onto the site.
He said that councillors have failed to provide appropriate Traveller accommodation in Galway, despite funds being made available by the Government for the provision of Traveller accommodation.
"This has led to the serious shortage of appropriate Traveller accommodation in Galway, causing overcrowding in existing sites and forcing families to park their caravans by the side of the road and on sites such as in Fana Glas," said Mr Loughnane. "Instead of attacking Traveller families who have nowhere else to go, councillors should be focusing on spending the money that is there to build new, culturally appropriate accommodation."
He said there is a plan in place to develop Fana Glas and make currently vacant sites available to families in need. "This development must be a priority for the incoming council to ensure it happens without delay," he said. "The sooner it takes place, the sooner families can be appropriately housed."
