CRAIGAVON Councillor and Upper Bann MLA Stephen Moutray is "extremely angry" that almost £900,000 has been spent by the NI Housing Executive over the past four years in maintaining, developing and administering Travellers' sites within the borough.
"It's a shocking waste of taxpayers' money, especially when the revelation coincides with this week's news that the Executive is doing away with 450 jobs over the next three years," he said.
Alderman Moutray, who gleaned the £900,000 figure throu
gh the Freedom of Information legislation. said: "This proves the lie that there has been any lack of will or investment by the authorities on these sites.
"Craigavon is being targeted as a dumping ground, expected to bear a greater financial burden than elsewhere.
"Rather than under-investment being the cause of unacceptable living standards, it is, in fact,unacceptable levels of behaviour that is to blame, with the knock-on effect of raising justifiable concern among those who live nearby.
"It is a disgrace that such a sum of taxpayers' money has been wasted on maintenance, administration and development of such sites at a time when across the board efficiencies are having to be made.
"It is unfair and unjustifiable that the hard-working public within this borough are expected to fund such unnecessary, unsightly and unwanted sites.
"As an elected representative I have to ask which other amenities and services suffer as a result of over expenditure for these sites. Serious questions and issues need to be addressed, and it really is time that the local community was given priority and its views taken into proper consideration."
Figures show that £5,600 was spent by the Executive in 2004-05, and that subsequent years saw increased spending - 2005-06 - £41,500; 2006-07 - £736,500; 2007-08 - £105,000.
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