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Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 29 Jun 1982

Vol. 337 No. 1

Written Answers. - Facilities for Itinerants.

654.

asked the Minister for the Environment the aids available to local authorities to provide halts for itinerants and their animals and belongings; and if he will give details of where they are or planned for County Wicklow.

My Department recoup the full capital costs of providing halts and ancillary facilities for travelling people, including, where necessary, storage areas and animal paddocks.

I am not aware of any existing serviced halts for travelling families in County Wicklow. A proposal for a serviced halt for eight families at Ballyronan, New-townmountkennedy was approved by my Department on 30 November 1981. No further proposals for the provision of serviced halts in County Wicklow are before my Department at present.

655.

asked the Minister for the Environment his plans for the housing of itinerants; how many itinerant families have applied to local authorities for housing; and in which counties.

Responsibility for the housing of travelling people, whether under the normal housing programme or under the special rehabilitation programme, rests primarily with local authorities. My Department give every assistance, including recoupment of full capital costs of providing special settlement schemes for travelling people.

Under the normal housing programmes of the local authority, it is open to travellers to apply for housing accommodation and their applications will be considered by the authority on their merits in accordance with the statutory approved schemes of letting priorities.

As the Deputy is no doubt aware, a Travelling People Review Group was set up jointly by the Ministers for Health and the Environment in January 1981 to review the current policies and programmes generally in relation to services and support for travelling people. The group is expected to report shortly.

Information regarding the number of applications to local authorities is not available in my Department.

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