Vol. 399 No. 5
12 Mr. Ferris asked the Minister for the Environment if he has proposals to pay directly from his Department the caretaker costs for approved itinerant halting sites in order to ensure their successful operation and to overcome the financial difficulties facing small urban authorities who currently bear these costs.
The management and maintenance of serviced travellers' sites is a matter for the individual local authority. The provision of a caretaker service in particular cases would be an integral part of that function and properly a local responsibility.
I may add that for the past few years I have allocated £3 million capital annually for the provision by local authorities of appropriate accommodation for travellers. I have also provided £1 million annually to recoup to the authorities, among other things, 90 per cent of the salary and associated expenses of social workers engaged.
Is the Minister of State aware of what the Minister for the Environment stated in the other House, when putting through the Housing Bill, 1988 on 5 July 1988? The Minister for the Environment stated, in regard to residential caravan sites for travellers and the powers given, that facilities such as caretaking, maintenance and support services would be included, in addition to social workers. The Minister persuaded me not to request that funding be made available for caretakers alone on the basis that the Bill enabled a local authority to recoup expenses from the Department. I am in a position to quote the Minister's response to me.
Not today.
Local authorities are frustrated because they are unable to fund caretakers. Will the Minister agree that it is essential that caretakers be appointed to itinerant halting sites if they are to be successful?
I appreciate the point made by the Deputy but I must point out that I have not received any complaints from local authorities in regard to this. I will review the position in due course. As I pointed out in my reply we provided £1 million to recoup to local authorities 90 per cent of the salaries and associated expenses in respect of social workers, among other things. All of this is an integral part of the local authority scheme. There is such a scheme operating in my county and it is well managed. I am exceptionally pleased with the schemes.
The Minister of State has said he has not received any complaints but is he aware that the Department turned down a request from an urban district council for help with funding? Is it possible under the Act for a county council to assist an urban district council and for the money to be recouped from the Department? That was the assurance given by the Minister when the legislation was being put through the other House.
If the Deputy gives me details of the specific case I will see what I can do for him.
I should like to thank the Minister for that assurance because this is an important matter.
Is the Minister aware that a number of local authorities hold the view that the appointment of caretakers to new halting sites is essential both from the point of view of the proper running of the sites and ameliorating the worries, often unnecessary worries, of the settled community? Is the Minister saying that if local authorities submit plans to his Department to have caretakers at halting sites his Department will recoup 90 per cent of the costs incurred in the appointment of those caretakers?
I will examine each proposal brought to my attention.
Is the Minister aware that a request for a caretaker at a halting site by Dublin County Council has been refused?
Deputy Finucane has been offering.
I am interested in this issue because we have the heaviest concentration of settled itinerants at Rath-keale in my constituency. It would be of considerable help if the halting sites were under the supervision of a caretaker. Will the Minister give an assurance that if Limerick County Council submit an appeal for the appointment of a caretaker for a site he will provide the necessary funds?
I have not received any correspondence in respect of this. However, the review is taking place. Local authorities who have halting sites manage them extremely well. I am pleased with the work they are doing. I would like to do a lot more about this problem if I could get the agreement of local authorities and others concerned.
Is the Minister for the Environment listening to the request from his Minister of State for more money?
The Deputy will be aware that Ministers for the Environment never had enough money. I should like to encourage local authorities to do all they can to relieve this problem.
