Vol. 525 No. 3
138 Ms O'Sullivan asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government if his attention has been drawn to statistics contained in the recent report of the national traveller accommodation consultative committee which showed that the numbers of travellers on the roadside or unauthorised sites had actually increased; the steps that are being taken to provide adequate accommodation for all travellers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24784/00]
Accommodation provided for traveller families each year has not, so far, been sufficient to meet the housing needs of traveller families as identified in the assessment of needs.
The Housing (Traveller Accommodation) Act, 1998, required each relevant housing authority to prepare and adopt a five year local traveller accommodation programme by 31 March 2000. An accommodation programme has now been adopted by each local authority required to do so. The implementation of these traveller accommodation programmes, which will be in force from 2000 to 2004, should significantly accelerate the provision of accommodation for travellers.
