Thomas Gould (Cork North Central, Sinn Fein)
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I wish the Minister of State the best of luck. It is obvious that a lot of work has been done in this area. The Minister of State seems to be passionate about it and I hope he will implement what he has outlined. One of the sites in my constituency that the Minister of State visited earlier this year is Spring Lane. Some 30 years ago, they moved the site from the bottom of Spring Lane to the top of Spring Lane. The situation of this site sums up the way the Traveller community has been treated by successive Governments and local authorities in regard to housing. They put in ten bays where there were 16 families. From the outset, 30 years ago, there were six bays overcrowded and now there are more than 30 families on the site in horrendous conditions, as was evident from a recent report of the ombudsman, in regard to what the children on the site have to deal with. There were some good people in Cork City Council trying to manage and maintain this site. One of the biggest issues faced was resources. The management, maintenance and caretaking of these sites was not resourced. While I acknowledge what the Minister of State has outlined, I ask that he provide further information about increased resources in that regard. We are not managing the sites properly. The fact that this site went from ten to more than 34 bays, with virtually no facilitates, goes to the heart of the problem. Of the 250 sites around the State, how many are actually managed properly? There is a duty of care and an onus on the local authorities to take responsibility for the management of these sites.

When I was a councillor, I was part of a group that was set up a number of years ago whereby the local Traveller community, the local residents of Ballyvolane, local councillors and officials, the HSE and the community garda used to come together. It was a great initiative because the Traveller community had its say, as did the local community. We were starting to work things out while working together. However, due to progress moving slowly, members of the Traveller community walked away because they felt it was a talking shop. Groups like this have an important part to play, but there is no point in attending meetings, coming up with policies and suggestions, if nothing happens.

Another example is St. Anthony's Park halting site in Hollyhill. It received major investment about seven or eight years ago - approximately €4 million was spent - which transformed that site. The problem now is that there is a community centre there that is never open, despite having spent the money to set up a brand new site. We know there are significant issues with mental health, suicide and education among members of the Traveller community, and with getting them involved with sports and the arts. A community centre would be a vital part in that.

There are many more issues I would like to raise with the Minister of State. I ask that he touch base with me on some of the issues I have raised, and hopefully we will work together. I have noticed that when the Traveller community and the local community come together, there are the best outcomes for everyone. It is in this regard that we should lead the way with the local authorities. However, if they do not have the funding and resources necessary, we will go nowhere quickly.