Vol. 473 No. 1
174 Mr. Flood asked the Minister for Equality and Law Reform if he intends to establish a traveller unit within his Department to assist him in overseeing the implementation and monitoring of the recommendations contained in the report of the task force on the travelling community; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24726/96]
I maintain an active interest in the implementation of recommendations of the Task Force on the Travelling Community and there is appropriate staffing in my Department to assist me in this.
175 Mr. Flood asked the Minister for Equality and Law Reform the plans, if any, he has to provide additional resources to traveller organisations on an annual basis, in order to especially assist such organisations to contribute to the process of relationship building between travellers and the settled community; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24730/96]
My Department has an allocation of £100,000 for European Year Against Racism 1997 and there is the possibility of co-financing by the European Commission. The European year will cover intolerance of travellers and I hope it can contribute to the process of relationship building between travellers and the settled community. Various funding initiatives are undertaken by other Department, such as Social Welfare, and these could be considered to contribute to increasing levels of contact between travellers and the settled population and to building understanding and respect between both communities.
