asked the Minister for the Environment if he will give details of proposals for the housing of itinerant families in 1984.
Ceisteanna — Questions. Oral Answers. - Housing of Itinerant Families.
5.
It is the responsibility of each local authority to provide housing for those persons in its area who are in need of housing and unable to house themselves from their own resources. Local authorities house travellers as part of their regular housing programmes in accordance with their statutory schemes of letting priorities, and in the past, the majority of travellers who have been housed have been dealt with in this way. To a much lesser extent, special group housing schemes, financed 100 per cent by my Department, have been provided for travellers.
Information on the number of travellers likely to be housed in 1984 under the normal local authority housing programme is not available in my Department. As regards group housing, the position is that 43 houses in 7 schemes have been approved; these are either under construction, or expected to be, this year. Further proposals for the construction in 1984 of special group schemes may yet be submitted to my Department.
It is difficult to follow the Minister's reply. However, I take it that there are only 43 houses to be specially constructed to accommodate travelling families in 1984, over and above whatever casual tenancies are created in the normal way through the local authority letting scheme. Is it only 43 special houses?
All that I have in my Department and that we have processed and have been given approval for amount to 43. That does not mean that further proposals may not come to the Department for further developments during the course of 1984.
The Minister's reply would not seem to indicate that the Government have any great commitment towards proceeding at an accelerated pace with the provision of housing for this very needy sector of our community. Is the information which the Minister has just given about the 100 per cent finance from his Department really correct when one considers that, in fact, the Department do not make any payments towards the cost of maintaining these special housing schemes when they are built for travellers and the costs which arise in regard to caretaking etc., which are an essential part of any special housing arrangement? These essential costs have to be met by the local authorities out of a small revenue fund. The Minister should consider providing financial assistance in that area. It is not just good enough to provide 100 per cent capital cost and ignore the rest. There must be a follow-up to ensure proper supervision and caretaking. That cost is a burden on the local authorities which the State should carry if it has any commitment to providing a housing scheme for the travelling community.
As the Deputy is aware, it is normal to provide 100 per cent ——
Not towards caretaking costs.
—— and that the local authority pick up the normal management and maintenance charges.
Which can be quite excessive. Is the Minister aware of some special housing schemes which have been constructed for itinerant families and that the proposal as initiated and explained entailed strict caretaking provisions which would be an essential part in the overall success of the scheme, but because the Department are not prepared to fund the local authorities that part of it, did not fulfil their obligations in that area and some of these schemes have now deteriorated from the original concept and have not been a success because of that, which is very regrettable. Surely these people, who represent a very small percentage of our total population must have a positive commitment from all parties in this House towards doing something for them as quickly as possible.
Whatever else that is, it is not a question.
For the sake of themselves and of their younger children coming along who do not want to continue living in those primitive conditions. The Chair is not concerned about the travelling people, but we on this side of the House are.
The Chair is concerned about keeping order at Question Time and about Standing Orders in relation to Question Time.
I appreciate the Deputy's concern for these people. This is a concern which we all share in a way. As he is probably aware, the Government have set up a Government task force.
Is that Deputy Fitzgerald's task force?
No. This is a task force set up as was the one set up to deal with the drugs situation because we believed that it was serious. The Deputy is taking that matter seriously.
Yes, I am.
I am equally taking this matter seriously. We hope to have a report with the Government very shortly and firm recommendations on which the Government will act to improve, first of all, the attitudes of society towards these people and, indeed, to improve housing. As the Deputy is probably aware, there are three types of developments — service sites, group housing and the ordinary casual vacant situation. We shall be putting proposals forward pretty shortly — within the next month. We shall then await a Government decision on these proposals. I hope that this will make significant changes both in houses for and attitudes towards these people.
I thank the Minister for his reply and encourage him to do the maximum for them. He will get the full support of this side of the House.