asked the Minister for the Environment the approximate number of itinerant families who have been rehoused over the past ten years; the approximate number of such families still in need of rehousing; and if the Government have a plan to rehouse these families within a certain period.
Written Answers. - Rehousing of Itinerants.
120.
Statistics on the accommodation used by travellers are obtained from the annual count of travellers. Figures from the 1987 count are not available yet but in the period 1978-1986 the number of traveller families accommodated in standard/ group housing and serviced sites rose from 1,122 to 1,938.
The 1986 annual count shows that there were 1,048 families requiring accommodation. My Department's policy in relation to travellers is to encourage the provision by local authorities of suitable accommodation and to make available the necessary financial assistance for this purpose. The authorities have been asked to deal with the accommodation of travellers as a priority in their housing programme. The main thrust of the provision of accommodation has been housing. This trend is now changing due mainly to a decline in the number of traveller families requiring housing while there is a greater need for serviced caravan parks. Up to 31 December 1987, 32 caravan parks catering for 324 families had been provided; there are currently 7 parks under construction and a further 30 are at planning stage.