Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 5 February 2013
574. Deputy Dessie Ellis asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if his attention has been drawn to the plight of six families currently residing adjacent to a halting site (details supplied in Dublin 15 one of whom has been there for 18 years; and the actions he will take to help the local authorities to accommodate them [5471/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraIn accordance with the Housing (Traveller Accommodation) Act 1998, statutory responsibility for provision of Traveller accommodation programmes designed to meet the accommodation needs of Travellers rests with individual housing authorities, in this case Fingal County Council. My Department’s role is to ensure that there is an adequate legislative and financial system in place to assist the authorities in providing such accommodation.
My Department understands that the family in question were offered accommodation by Fingal County Council in the Barnlodge halting site, Dublin 11, which was opened in December 2010, but declined the offer. It remains an objective in the Council’s Traveller Accommodation Programme 2009 – 2013, to identify and secure lands to accommodate a 6-unit scheme of Traveller specific accommodation to meet the needs of Traveller families in the area, including this family. As yet, no suitable site has been identified by Fingal County Council.
