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Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 1 Jun 1999

Vol. 505 No. 6

Written Answers. - Traveller Accommodation.

Alan M. Dukes

Question:

35 Mr. Dukes asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government the number of new halting sites for travellers constructed and opened since the passage of the Housing (Traveller Accommodation) Act, 1998; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14442/99]

Since the commencement of the Housing (Traveller Accommodation) Act, in September 1998, three halting sites have been completed or extended. During 1998, work was completed on a total of six schemes which provided 27 new bays and refurbished a further 63. Construction is currently under way on a further four schemes. On the basis of information which has been received from local authorities it is expected that work will commence this year on a further 14 projects which have already been approved by my Department. These will provide 45 new bays and redevelop a further 103 bays.

Under the provisions of the Act all major local authorities, i.e. county councils, county boroughs, borough corporations and Bray and Dundalk Urban District Councils, are obliged to prepare and adopt five year accommodation programmes by 31 March 2000. However, pending the adoption of the programmes local authorities have been advised of the need to accelerate the provision of accommodation.

I would also like to add that the provision of halting sites is but one aspect of the accommodation provided by local authorities for travellers. My Department also provides funding for local authorities for the construction of group housing specially designed for groups of traveller families, while travellers are also provided with accommodation under the normal local authority housing programme.

At the end of November 1998 there were 3,515 traveller families accommodated by or with the assistance of local authorities, of which 3,387 are in halting sites and local authority standard or group housing.

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