Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 29 Jan 2003

Vol. 560 No. 1

Written Answers. - Traveller Accommodation.

Eamon Gilmore

Question:

887 Mr. Gilmore asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government the total number of halting site bays, group housing units and units of standard housing which were to be provided in the five year traveller accommodation plans adopted by local authorities; the numbers in each of these categories which have been provided to date; his plans to ensure that the balance is provided by 2004; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1146/03]

Minister for the Environment and Local Government (Mr. Cullen)

The five year Travel ler accommodation programmes adopted by local authorities for the accommodation of Travellers, in accordance with the Housing (Traveller Accommodation) Act, 1998, estimated that 3,785 units of accommodation would be required to meet the accommodation needs of Travellers arising from 2000 to 2004. This included a future projection of an extra 1,684 units which local authorities estimated would arise due to potential new family formations etc. Information from the more recent assessment of housing needs published by my Department in December 2002 indicates that this additional projection will not be relevant to the period involved.

The following table shows the accommodation provided in 2000 and 2001 and the estimate of the number of units of Traveller specific accommodation provided to the end of 2002. Details of the standard local authority accommodation allocated to Traveller families in 2002 are not yet available.

	2000	2001	2002	Total
Standard local authority accommodation	137	162	N\A	299
Halting Site Bays	18	54	80	152
Group Houses	49	83	39	171

The 1998 Act provides the framework within which local authorities address the accommodation requirements of Travellers. In April 2002, my Department reminded local authorities that under the 1998 Act they were required to review their programmes before 31 December 2002. It is a matter for each local authority, having completed its review, to determine what action is required to secure the implementation of its programme.