asked the Minister for Local Government if he will consider the prohibition of itinerants camping on main roads.
45.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Itinerant Camping.
44.
asked the Minister for Local Government if he will consider the introduction of legislation to prohibit itinerants from camping within a nine mile radius of airports.
46.
asked the Minister for Local Government if he is aware of the considerable health hazard caused by the itinerant camp alongside the dispensary at Cloghran village, Swords, County Dublin; and what action he intends taking in the matter.
With your permission, a Cheann Comhairle, I propose to take Questions Nos. 44, 45 and 46 together.
Sanitary authorities have adequate legislative power to control camping by itinerants or other persons in any part of their areas. It is a matter for those authorities to abate any public health nuisance to which unauthorised camping may give rise.
Is the Minister aware, arising from the fact that Dublin airport is possibly the gateway to the world, that prior to my putting down those questions there were 15 itinerant families within a quarter-mile of the airport and that when I put down the questions automatically those families were moved by the gardaí although the Minister for Justice said they had no power to do it? Does the Minister not consider that having itinerants camped outside the dispensary in Cloghran village is definitely a health hazard? Would he not persuade the Dublin Health Authority or Dublin County Council to pale off this portion of ground so that no further itinerant camps can be placed on it?
That is purely a matter for the local authorities and I do not think it would be up to me to dictate to them in this matter. They have adequate legislative power to deal with a matter of this nature.
Question No. 47.
The Minister says they have the power to do it but it is quite obvious from what I have told him that they are not using the power. Would the Minister instruct them to use the power?
Perhaps some of them might be republicans.
Will the Minister state if there is a sufficient number of properly serviced sites for itinerants in and around Dublin?
There are not.
The Deputy has opposed them in North County Dublin.
The Deputy should get his facts right.
The Deputy has done his utmost to stop any servicing of sites in North County Dublin.
I have not. The Deputy should get his facts right.
Question No. 47.
(Cavan): Am I right in thinking that during the transitional period when the itinerants are supposed to be rehabilitated the Minister's Department discourage and have discouraged in specific cases the local authorities from invoking the legislation in regard to hygiene and the usages which he has mentioned in relation to itinerants?
The relevant section under which local authorities would act in a case like this is section 31 of the Sanitary Services Act, 1948. We have on the recommendation of the Itinerancy Advisory Council indicated to the local authorities throughout the country that we do not wish them to press this section too hard until such time as the local authorities provide adequately serviced camps to accommodate the itinerant people.
(Cavan): Would the Minister agree in cases where the local authorities have failed to provide adequate camps that the ratepayers of the locality are left in an impossible position with itinerants camped for long periods on their doorsteps and causing untold hardship and inconvenience?
Is the Minister aware that the only properly serviced itinerant camp in North County Dublin is the one which was recently opened in Finglas by the ex-Minister for Local Government? Is he aware that during the past week itinerants have been forced to move on to the land allocated for the Ballymun satellite town and are taking up playing space there which was designed for the use of the children in the area? Will he agree there are not sufficient serviced caravan sites in North County Dublin?
Question No. 47.
The ex-Minister is a political itinerant. He belongs to no party.
In answer to those supplementaries, I would make a special appeal to the community and to local authorities to accelerate their efforts in providing serviced camps. I appeal to the community generally where camping sites are selected to co-operate with the local authorities.
Does this apply to Rahoon?
Deputy O'Leary is trying to ridicule the efforts which have been made in my own constituency, which set a headline for the whole country by providing serviced camps for all the itinerant population. I can only recommend to Deputy O'Leary and whomever he represents to study the progress made in Galway city.
Would the Minister consider it a matter of urgency to meet the heads of Dublin County Council about the provision of adequate serviced sites in Dublin County?
I do not see what use or purpose would be served by such a meeting. I shall do whatever I can as Minister to assist in providing proper serviced sites, which, I might add, is only the beginning of any effort to integrate itinerants.
That is making very little of Deputy Boland and what he tried to do.
Providing serviced sites for itinerants is not a solution in itself; it is merely the first step.
(Cavan): Would the Minister encourage county managers or other executives responsible for selecting sites that before the selection of a site, they would consult local public representatives and other interests to ensure that, in so far as possible, when a site is selected it will be acceptable and objections will not be made to it?
I have recently initiated discussions between my Department and the managers in the local authority areas where difficulty has been found in establishing suitable sites. I am keeping a very close eye on the necessity to provide proper camps in these and other areas. I agree with the Deputy's suggestion that it is proper that consultation should take place with the community in the area in which the camp is being located. This is very necessary if the camp is to be a success after it is established. My personal policy in this matter is that I do not favour very large camps.
(Interruptions.)
We know the Minister's policy. We know what happened at Rahoon, Galway.
My policy was adopted in Galway and it was successful.
How would it be possible for a county managers or a county council to decide on a site without the members of the local authority discussing the matter?
(Cavan): That has been done.
Except in Dublin.
The local community should be consulted.
Would the Minister be able to tell us when sites will be available and will he give some details?
The Deputy should direct these questions to the local authority who are responsible. We are making 100 per cent grants available and encouraging them to be active in this work.
(Interruptions.)
(Cavan): The Minister agrees with me that consultation is necessary?
We know the Minister's views.
Will the Deputy tell me my views?
We understand your policy—"get out" is your policy.
Deputy O'Leary's contribution to the solution of this problem is nil.