Skip to main content
Normal View

Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 17 Dec 1996

Vol. 473 No. 1

Written Answers. - Traveller Halting Sites.

Seamus Brennan

Question:

188 Mr. S. Brennan asked the Minister for the Environment if he has received an application from Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council for funding in respect of a halting site at Blackglen Road, Sandyford, County Dublin; if so, the date of receipt of the application; the date and nature of his Department's response, if any; if his attention has been drawn to the discrepancy in this regard between replies to Questions Nos. 39 to 41 of 15 June 1995 and number 121 of 30 April 1996 given by the Minister of State at his Department which confirmed approval of funding, compared with a letter from his office on 19 November 1996 which stated that no proposal had been received; if he will reconsider the request for a meeting with Sandyford Environmental Planning and Road Safety Group in order to clear up these differences directly and urgently; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24361/96]

An application for funding for a 20 bay temporary halting site at Blackglen Road, Sandyford, County Dublin, was received from Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council on 2 May 1995 and approval, subject to some technical modifications, was given on 16 May 1995. Revised proposals were received from the Council on 14 June 1995 and were approved by my Department on 23 June 1995. In mid-November this year, three persons were incorrectly informed that no proposals for funding had been received for the halting site at Blackglen Road. The error was discovered on Wednesday, 27 November, and letters with the correct information issued on Thursday, 28 November. In addition, the persons concerned were contacted by telephone between Wednesday, 27 November and Friday, 29 November and the Department's apologies and the correct information were conveyed to them. Primary responsibility in relation to the location of halting sites rests with the local authority. In these circumstances, and bearing in mind that development of the site in question is now the subject of an appeal to the Supreme Court, I do not consider that a meeting, as suggested, would be appropriate.

Top
Share