Dáil Éireann debate -
Thursday, 13 Jun 1996

Vol. 466 No. 8

Written Answers. - Travellers' Accommodation.

Godfrey Timmins

Question:

16 Mr. Timmins asked the Minister for the Environment the estimated number of traveller families that will be rehoused in 1996; and the projections he has for the resettlement of such families over the coming years in halting sites and local authority housing. [12325/96]

Michael Woods

Question:

25 Dr. Woods asked the Minister for the Environment if he has satisfied himself that the measures recommended in the report of the Task Force on the Travelling Community will overcome the core problem in providing suitable accommodation for travellers, namely, the opposition of the settled community; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8730/96]

Minister of State at the Department of the Environment (Ms McManus)

I propose to take Question Nos. 16 and 25 together.

The national strategy for travellers' accommodation, which I announced on 27 March last, is the Government's comprehensive response to the recommendations on the accommodation of travellers contained in the report of the Task Force on the Travelling Community. Details of the strategy, which take account of all of the problems encountered to date in providing suitable accommodation, are set out in the reply to Questions Nos. 16 and 82 on 27 March last and in my statement to the Dáil on 23 April on the report of the task force.

Local authorities provide accommodation for travellers through the letting of houses from their existing or new stock of houses, the allocation of houses in traveller group housing schemes and the provision of serviced bays in halting sites. At this stage, it is not possible to estimate how many traveller families will be accommodated by local authorities in 1996. The outturn will depend on progress in completing those group housing schemes and halting sites which are currently under constructions, and the number of local authority houses which become available for letting to travellers families.

As regards future years, I am confident that implementation of the national strategy will ensure an adequate response by local authorities to the accommodation needs of travellers.