Ms Denise Doyle:

Yes, it is definitely a step in the right direction. We will progress this through the redevelopment. We have spent €8.9 million on maintenance over the last three years so we are putting an awful lot of funding into maintenance and repair.

Last year, we conducted a site-by-site audit of our maintenance issues that are outstanding and they are currently being addressed site by site. We are starting with St. Joseph's and that commenced in January. Outstanding maintenance issues will be addressed and we will move on to the next site and do the same.

The waste management plan will help to alleviate much of the illegal dumping on the sites. Labre Park was our pilot waste management project and that has been extremely successful, as has been noted. We will be extending that to the rest of our sites this year. We are currently procuring the waste management service and hope to have it up and running in the next quarter. That will be across all of our sites. Every family will get a 1,100 l bin and there will be weekly collections. We will be progressing to a recycling service as well, which will also be weekly. That is in process but to begin with, it will be just the 1,100 l bins. An educational programme will be rolled out for the tenants on how to use the bins effectively. When the recycling aspect is brought in, that will be part of that.

Regarding threats to staff, while I appreciate the Cathaoirleach's comments, I cannot comment on that particular incident. The threats that some of our staff have received have been extremely significant. It is more than just a comment from a child. I had a staff member who was physically assaulted on one of our sites and required medical care afterwards. They are significant threats. It is an ongoing issue and is not just confined to one site. It is something we are trying to deal with in a constructive way and through the Traveller Mediation Service, which has helped significantly. I do not have an answer as to how we resolve this. Much of it is borne out of frustration about conditions on site and I fully acknowledge and recognise that. However, I have to look after the safety of my staff and their well-being.