Written Answers. - Travellers' Needs
Chris Flood
Ceist:
16
Mr. Flood
asked the
Minister for the Environment
the plans, if any, he has to ensure that sufficient, suitable accommodation is provided to meet the needs of the travelling community in view of the fact that the latest information suggests there are almost 1,100 families forced to live on the side of the road and a further 257 families living on temporary sites; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[3799/96]
Chris Flood
Ceist:
82
Mr. Flood
asked the
Minister for the Environment
whether he has made a decision regarding the provision of a 100 per cent subsidy to local authorities for the management and maintenance of permanent halting sites as recommended in the report of the task force on the travelling community published in July 1995; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[5431/96]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 16 and 82 together.
The Minister for Equality and Law Reform and I announced earlier today the Government's comprehensive response to the report of the Task Force on the Travelling Community. The Government's announcement is the development of a national strategy for traveller accommodation with the necessary financial and legislative support to provide a framework within which the accommodation needs of travellers can be met.
The main elements of the strategy are as follows: Each major local authority, — county borough, county council and, possibly, some larger urban councils — will be required to prepare and adopt a five year plan for the provision of traveller accommodation in their areas. The plans would be subject to periodic review by the authorities in the light of progress and developments otherwise, including changes in the local traveller population, etc.
The local plans would be co-ordinated by the Department with the assistance of a National Traveller Accommodation Consultative Group into a national plan to deliver the 3,100 units of accommodation required as determined by the task force. The types of accommodation as set out in the report of the task force are permanent halting sites — 1,200 serviced bays — and 900 houses; and a network of serviced transient halting sites — 1,000 bays.
The total cost of this accommodation was estimated by the task force at £158 million in 1994 prices. The extra cost over and above the present levels of expenditure is £14 million annually over the six years implementation period of the plan. The increase in expenditure would build up from 1997 onwards.
The housing Acts and the management Acts will be amended to impose on local authorities the obligation to prepare and adopt their plans by a specified deadline and to provide that, in the event of the elected members not adopting a plan within the time allowed, the manager would then be empowered and required to formally make the plan. When a plan had been made the authority would be required to take the necessary steps to secure its implementation.
The planning Acts will be amended to put an effective planning framework in place which would facilitate implementation of the traveller accommodation plans. These amendments would be comprehensive, dealing with a range of planning considerations, for example, development plan, zoning, consultation process, etc. Again, a power for the manager to act independently of the council would be provided to ensure, for example, that the development plan includes the necessary provision for zoning etc. for halting sites.
A special unit will be established in the Department of the Environment to oversee the preparation, monitoring, implementation, co-ordination, etc. of the programme for traveller accommodation, including the preparation and enactment of the necessary legislation. The unit will also service the National Traveller Accommodation Consultative Group. The unit to be headed by a principal officer and have appropriate support staff.
A national traveller accommodation consultative group will be established on a statutory basis to monitor preparation, adequacy and implementation of the local accommodation programmes and to advise the Minister as necessary. The committee would consist of seven members nominated by the Minister for the Environment, the Minister for Equality and Law Reform, and relevant national traveller organisations and be chaired by a nominee of the Minister for the Environment.
Wider legislative powers will be given to local authorities to deal with illegal, indiscriminate and unauthorised parking by travellers and related matters. Consideration will be given to prohibiting parking of caravans and temporary dwellings within a specified distance, say, one mile, of traveller accommodation.
Measures will be taken to improve the management and maintenance of traveller accommodation by local authorities with a view to securing higher standards of upkeep. The task force recommended 75 per cent recoupment of local authority expenditure at an estimated average annual cost to the Exchequer of £7.5 million over the six year period.
There should be a statutory requirement that traveller accommodation committees, representative of the elected members and officials of the local authority, and travellers, be established in each local authority area to facilitate consultation and to assist in the development and implementation of the local programmes.
The strategy represents a focused, coherent and balanced policy designed to achieve real solutions to the difficult problems of traveller accommodation. It is a break through in our approach to the accommodation of travellers. It reflects my desire and that of the Government to act decisively in favour of one of the most marginalised groups in our society. It is a commitment to deliver on the recommendations of the task force that 3,100 units of accommodation be provided for travelling families in the shortest practicable period.
