Vol. 425 No. 7
208 Mr. D. Ahern asked the Minister for the Environment if his attention has been drawn to the continuing transient traveller problem in the Dundalk area of County Louth which has reached such proportions that the IDA have now refused to allow any further industrial visits to the area until this problem has been sorted out; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
The Programme for a Partnership Government contains explicit commitments in relation to the provision of housing and halting sites for the travelling community. This policy is underpinned by the provision of funds to local authorities to provide these facilities. That said, I am aware of difficulties which can be caused by large-scale movements of travellers.
There is at present a substantial array of legislative powers available to local authorities and the gardaí to deal with these difficulties. These powers are contained in the Local Government (Sanitary Services) Act, 1948, the Road Traffic Acts and, more recently, the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act, 1992. Additional powers will be provided in the Roads Bill 1991, at present before the House.
