asked the Minister for the Environment his proposals for the settlement of the travelling people.
Written Answers. - Settlement of Travelling People.
162.
It is the responsibility of each local authority, within the context of the national programme to provide accommodation and other services for travellers, to provide the necessary accommodation for them, whether in standard housing, in special group schemes or on residential caravan parks.
My primary function is to encourage the provision of suitable accommodation by local authorities and to make available to the authorities the necessary financial assistance for this purpose. The capital cost of providing caravan parks and housing is met in full by the Exchequer. In addition, my Department recoup to local authorities and certain voluntary bodies 90 per cent of the cost of employing social workers engaged in the settlement programme.