Alan Shatter
Question:7 Mr. Shatter asked the Minister for Equality and Law Reform the action, if any, he intends to take to implement the interim report of the task force on the travelling community.
Ceisteanna — Questions. Oral Answers. - Travelling Community Report.
Pat Rabbitte
Question:35 Mr. Rabbitte asked the Minister for Equality and Law Reform his response to the interim progress report of the task force on the travelling community; if the recommendations will be implemented; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Liz O'Donnell
Question:36 Ms O'Donnell asked the Minister for Equality and Law Reform the plans, if any, he has to introduce legislation to establish a national body with statutory powers as proposed in the interim report of the task force on the travelling community which the task force recommended should have three functions, namely, the setting of targets annually for traveller accommodation in respect of all local authorities, monitoring the achievement of those targets and applying to local authorities to meet those targets; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
I propose to take Questions Nos. 7, 35 and 36 together.
In framing the terms of reference of the Task Force on the Travelling Community, it was my intention to ensure that an in-depth and comprehensive examination would be undertaken of the needs of the travelling community and the extent to which these needs are being met by official policy, both at central and local level. I understand that the task force has already commissioned research to facilitate this process in order to formulate detailed and precise recommendations.
When I received the interim progress report of the task force on 14 January 1994 I undertook to consider it carefully to see what improvements and recommendations could be acted upon in the meantime, pending receipt of the final report. Arising from this, I have been in consultation with my colleagues, the Minister for Education and the Minister of State at the Department of the Environment with responsibility for housing, to identify the recommendations on which it would be possible to take action in the near future.
I understand from the Minister for Education that provision for children with special needs is being considered in the context of the report of the Special Education Review Committee and, in the specific case of traveller children, the interim progress report of the Task Force on the Travelling Community. A group of officials within that Department is considering the question of developing appropriate supports for these children.
On 18 March last, the Minister of State at the Department of the Environment announced that the special grant for travellers purchasing their first house for their own occupation had been increased from £1,500 to £3,000. He expressed the hope that the increase would encourage more travellers to look at the option of home ownership. He also stated that the increased grant was in accordance both with the Government's policy of securing accommodation for travellers and with the interim progress report of the Task Force on the Travelling Community.
I understand that the task force is currently reviewing its recommendation for a national body dealing with accommodation for the travelling community with the object of elaborating on the role and structure which the task force would envisage for the national body. I shall await with interest their further recommendations on the subject.
Does the Minister agree that there is an urgent need to implement a national strategy? While the Minister is consulting his ministerial colleagues the programme of local authority activities is proceeding. For example, in the Dublin region the burden is being carried equally by the different wards. Does the Minister agree, given that there is goodwill between the settled and travelling communities, that it is essential a national strategy is implemented and a guarantee given to the settled communty on the question of the maintenance of halting sites? This matter should not be left to the local authorities; the Minister should adopt a pro-active role, as recommended in the report, to monitor compliance by local authorities. The local authorities in Dublin are taking the lion's share of the responsibility; that is unfair. There is a danger that we will tip the balance of goodwill away from the project.
I agree with the Deputy that there has to be a careful and controlled interplay between the Ministers with primary responsibility. Environment, Health and Education, and the local authorities which provide the sites in meeting the immediate needs of the travelling community. In its interim progress report the task force suggested that a national body should be established. It is carrying out research and considering in-depth the role and structure such a national body should have as opposed to a national policy. In further progress reports it will advise me if it is necessary or appropriate to introduce further legislation or redistribute responsibilities. Some progress has been made on the two matters raised in the interim progress report, namely, the question of traveller children — I have outlined the steps being taken by the Minister for Education — and that of accommodation. Improvements have been made by the Minister of State at the Department of the Environment in doubling the grant for travellers purchasing their first home.
Does the Minister have the figure for the number of houses brought by travellers? It has been reported that they rent local authority houses in my constituency when they go on the road in the summer. What steps is the Minister taking to ensure that all local authorities face up to their responsibilities in the provision of halting sites for travelling families to ensure that the burden is not carried by local authorities such as in Galway and, according to Deputy O'Donnell, those in Dublin? It is a very delicate task to get the various wards to share the responsibility but we managed to do this successfully in Galway. There is a need for the Minister to introduce guidelines to ensure all local authorities play their part and travelling families are not attracted to areas such as Galway and Dublin where the local authorities are playing their part in the settlement of travellers.
The matters raised by the Deputy are primarily for the Minister for the Environment.
It is a national strategy.
It is a national strategy on the settlement of travellers. I would like the Minister to reply.
The Deputy knows full well where the responsibility lies.
It is vital that local authorities receive this information.
I do not know how many houses were purchased by travellers but in doubling the grant I hope we will encourage an appreciable number of them to buy their homes.
The Minister should not hold his breath.
I hope this will produce some results. I sympathise with the Deputy who made some valid points. I take the view that all local authorities have a role to play in the resettlement of travellers. These issues are being addressed by the task force. If legislation is necessary I will go to Government with such a request.
Will the Minister consider the position in Dublin and Galway where the respective local authorities which have adopted a pro-active role in the matter, are carrying an unfair burden? Due to the geographical location of the various wards in Dublin sites are located no more than a mile from each other in south Dublin and as a result there is a danger that we will tip the balance of good will in the settled community away from the project. This cannot be allowed to continue given that other local authorities are not carrying their fair share of the burden.
We are having repetition.
I have nothing further to add. All these issues are being examined by the task force. Further legislation may be necessary to provide appropriate inducements for local authorities which are not complying with what the task force would regard as their reasonable responsibilities. Its recommendations will be carefully considered.
Members of the travelling community attached to the training centres in Abbeyfeale and Newcastle West in County Limerick are visiting the Houses of the Oireachtas today. I extend a warm welcome to them. As the chairman of the task force is aware, there is a preponderance of travelling families in that area. I would welcome the establishment of a national body as some local authorities are carrying an unfair burden in the integration of travellers.
In Newcastle West a large number of people have been integrated in the community and that is better than providing halting sites. I would like to hear the Minister's view and perhaps the task force would also look at it. Sometimes integration brings other problems. For example, horses are a natural part of the traveller's retinue and this is a huge nuisance when integrating travellers in the community. I would like that to be addressed because, on balance, the travellers must bear some responsibility if they want to achieve effective integration.
I agree that the members of the travelling community have responsibilities just like the settled community. I also agree that integration within settled communities is important. Integration and the provision of halting sites are required because many members of the travelling community are not interested in being integrated in the settled community. They wish to preserve their way of life and they must be reasonably facilitated in that regard.
These issues are being ably dealt with and vigorously researched by the task force under the chairmanship of Deputy McManus. The task force has three subcommittees working on aspects of the lives of travelling community. I am making the maximum resources available to the task force to enable it to carry out its functions with the greatest possible speed. I pay tribute to the chairman and all the members of the task force who are giving voluntarily of their time, energies and knowledge to enable us to make substantial progress in providing reasonable living conditions for members of the travelling community to which, I am sure, all Members of the House subscribe.
I read the initial report of the task force issued on 14 January. When will the final report be published? I am concerned that the Minister says he is setting up groups to look at this or that aspect and that we must wait for legislation. The local authorities will not be able to sustain their campaign unless there is an overall balance throughout the country. It may require legislation to hold back allocations for local authority housing where local authorities are not playing their part. In the context of integration, it should be illegal to hold animals. I was reared in a culture which included the keeping of horses. However, when I went to live in the city I could not bring the horses and allow them out on the open spaces. It would not be long before my neighbours would have objected if I had done that. I do not see why the travelling community should be treated any differently if they wish to move from rural to city living.
Perhaps the Deputy misunderstood me. The subcommittees I referred to are those set up by the task force to expedite their work so that various aspects of the lives of travellers could be dealt with simultaneously. I cannot say when the final report of the task force will be furnished to me. I know there are regular meetings of the task force and of the sub groups. They all know of the need to make progress and, as soon as they can complete their work thoroughly, their report will be furnished to me.