Vol. 474 No. 3
133 Mr. D. Ahern asked the Minister for the Environment if he will furnish details on a county basis and on a local authority basis of the transient traveller halting sites currently in place; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2817/97]
134 Mr. D. Ahern asked the Minister for the Environment the plans, if any, he has to encourage local authorities around the country who have not put in place in their area the necessary transient halting sites for travellers to so do; the plans, if any, he has to penalise the local authorities in the event of continued refusal by particular local authorities to provide these facilities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2818/97]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 133 and 134 together.
The Government's national strategy for traveller accommodation, which was announced on 29 March 1996, contains targets in relation to a range of traveller accommodation options, including transient halting sites, and provides for the introduction of new and amending legislation requiring local authorities to adopt five year programmes to provide adequately for traveller accommodation needs. The draft legislation, which will provide for amendments to the housing and planning codes, is in the course of preparation. Pending the enactment of the legislation, local authorities have been requested, in view of the terms of the national strategy, to proceed with the preparation of programmes to ensure that appropriate targets are met within the time frame envisaged. Further advice for local authorities on the preparation of such programmes is being developed in consultation with the National Traveller Accommodation Consultative Group. Based on returns received from local authorities, there are at present six transient halting sites with 85 places for caravans for travellers as follows:
|
Local Authority |
No. of Places |
|
Galway Corporation |
25 |
|
Kerry County Council |
8 |
|
Dundalk UDC |
15 |
|
Sligo Corporation |
7 |
|
Westmeath County Council |
24 |
|
Waterford Corporation |
6 |
