Dáil Éireann debate -
Thursday, 21 Feb 2002

Vol. 549 No. 2

Written Answers. - Traveller Accommodation.

Chris Flood

Question:

118 Mr. Flood asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government his efforts to date to ensure that sufficient and properly resourced transient sites are provided in the greater Dublin area and in the eastern region to meet the urgent needs of the Traveller community; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6242/02]

Minister of State at the Department of the Environment and Local Government (Mr. Molloy)

The Housing (Traveller Accommodation) Act, 1998 requires each major local authority to adopt and implement five-year Traveller accommodation programmes for the provision of sufficient accommodation to cater for Travellers, including transient sites. The majority of local authorities in adopting their 2000-04 programmes included provision for transient sites.

On 1 November 2001, my Department wrote to all major local authorities emphasising the need to expedite the implementation of programmes and to progress the provision of transient sites as part of this process. Local authorities were requested to liaise with adjoining authorities to ensure a co-ordinated approach to the pro vision of transient sites and to report on the outcome to my Department.

On 23 November 2001 I met with the chairpersons of the Dublin local authorities, of Kildare, Meath and Wicklow county councils, of the local Traveller accommodation consultative committees, as well as the relevant managers and other senior local authority officials to discuss the issues of illegal encampments and provision of transient sites. It was agreed at this meeting that all seven local authorities would liaise appropriately with a view to progressing the provision of transient sites within a co-ordinated timeframe and approach and that each of the authorities would seek to have identified one such site in their area by the end of January 2002. I have arranged a further meeting with the seven authorities for 26 February 2002 to discuss and report on progress.

My Department in conjunction with the National Traveller Accommodation Consultative Committee is drafting a protocol for the management and operation of the sites by local authorities and their use by Traveller families.