Vol. 417 No. 7
162 Mr. Connaughton asked the Minister for the Environment if he will outline the obligations incurred by Ireland in relation to the promotion of the rights and the dignity of travellers following the ratification of the UN Covenant on Civil and Political Rights.
My Department's responsibilities in relation to the welfare of travellers relate to the provision of accommodation for them, through the local authorities, where they are in need of accommodation and unable to provide it from their own resources. In this regard, travellers have equal rights with all others seeking, and qualified for, such accommodation, in accordance with the schemes of letting priorities adopted by individual housing authorities. There is a further specific provision in the Housing Act, 1988, enabling housing authorities to provide caravan parks for travellers and adequate finance is made available to the authorities for this purpose.
