asked the Minister for the Environment the action he proposes to take to deal with the serious itinerant problem which exists in the Clondalkin and Tallaght areas of County Dublin.
Written Answers. - Itinerant Problem.
379.
The primary responsibility for providing accommodation facilities for travelling families rests with the local authority, in this case Dublin County Council. My Department give every assistance, including financial assistance at the rate of 100 per cent of the capital cost of providing special housing, services, sites and ancillary accommodation and support for the employment of social workers. It is also a matter for the local authority to decide on any action by them that may be called for to deal with unauthorised camping in this area.
Each local authority has been asked by my Department to prepare a plan to deal with the total settlement problem in their area, through provision of houses, or serviced sites, according to the individual needs of the families concerned. Consultation between local authorities is encouraged in the case of providing for families moving between areas.
I understand that at the last count of travelling families in County Dublin, including the city and borough of Dun Laoghaire, taken in October 1980, 263 families were in occupation of houses, chalets or on approved halting sites, while 310 families were on unauthorised sites. My information is that proposals for a programme for provision of serviced sites to meet the needs which was submitted to Dublin County Council had been referred back by the council for re-examination.
In regard to other aspects of the social needs of itinerant families—for example, those relating to health, social welfare, education—the local authority does not have the primary responsibility.