Vol. 545 No. 1
248 Dr. Upton asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government if he met a delegation from South Dublin County Council to discuss the illegal traveller encampment at the Dodder, Rathfarnham, Dublin 14; and the legislative proposals which will follow. [29621/01]
I met a delegation from South Dublin County Council on 14 November. The purpose of the meeting, which was at the request of elected members of South Dublin County Council, was to discuss the position in relation to unauthorised Traveller encampments in the area of the authority. The council representatives outlined the difficulties encountered by the authority as a result of the large scale unauthorised encampments by Travellers especially in the Rathfarnham, Lower Dodder and Tallaght areas, and indicated the negative effect that such encampments are having on the implementation of their Traveller accommodation programme.
In the course of the meeting, I informed the delegation that I was taking the matter up with my colleague, the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform. I have also asked that the monitoring committee on the implementation of the recommendations of the 1995 task force report on the Travelling community look at the legal powers available to local authorities and others to deal with incidents of unauthorised encampments. The committee, which is under the aegis of the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform, comprises representatives of relevant Departments including my Department, Traveller organisations and the social partners. The necessity for any changes in the legislative provisions regarding unauthorised encampments and the issues associated with such encampments will be considered in the light of the committee's consideration and of my consultations with the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform.
