Jim, things may be different in Ireland, but here everybody knows the arse has fallen out of the scrap business.....none of the travellers round here are tradesmen....they take on some roofing work which I nine times out of ten, have to replace ....at half the price.
Most of it is extremely shoddy and executed with no knowledge of building practice.

I repeat, they no longer have a place in society where they can lead a nomadic existence AND provide for the welfare of their families and themselves.....

I notice that you did not address the high levels of alcoholism.