asked the Minister for the Environment if he will specify the applications that are on hand in his Department from Dublin County Council regarding the provision of halting sites for itinerants in County Dublin; the present position regarding any such application; and when it will be dealt with.
Written Answers. - Itinerants Halting Sites.
540.
The only proposal received in my Department from Dublin County Council is in respect of a ten pitch halting site at Ballycoolin, Blanchardstown. This was approved last February, subject to certain modifications. These were considered essential because the council's estimate of cost, together with an allowance for items such as land, landscaping and design services would have resulted in an overall cost of about £40,000 per pitch. This figure far exceeds the cost of providing comparable facilities by any other local authority and compares unfavourably with the cost of conventional housing. Last month, the council sent a revised estimate to my Department but this suggested that there would be a significant increase in costs although the community centre which formed part of the original proposal was not included. The increased costs now indicated are being examined by my Department's technical advisers in conjunction with those of the local authority.