A human rights group is calling for immediate state intervention to address the housing crisis facing the country's Traveller community.
The Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission will appear at an Oireachtas Committee later to share details of its new research on the issue.
The report, published last week, uncovered a €58 million under-spend by local authorities on traveller accommodation over ten years.
Last month it emerged that travellers living at a halting site at Spring Lane in Ballyvolane - where living conditions have been criticsed- only accepted two of 20 housing offers made by the City Council over a 12 month period
The details were provided in the wake of a report from the Ombudsman for Children’s Office which found that the Council failed to consider the best interests of children living on the site by allowing them to live in filthy, overcrowded, rat-infested, and unsafe living conditions.
Chief Commissioner, Sinead Gibney, says the lack of adequate housing is causing huge problems.
"Over representation of the Traveller population within the homeless community for example. Over crowding Traveller households - 84% of Travellers who live in caravans or mobile homes now reside in over crowded conditions.
"Really the standard of housing and accommodation for Travellers has been very poor and remains so."
