Phil Hogan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I do not agree with Deputy Wallace, because the position on the ground is clearly different from he has said. The position is clearly evident in the results of the 2011 assessment of housing needs. Of the 1,824 families on the housing list at that time, 1,789 opted for a standard house while only 18 opted for a bay on a halting site. Six families opted for group housing. Local authorities are doing everything they possibly can for Travellers in the same way as they are for any other group on the housing list in order to get them standard housing accommodation. If Traveller representative groups disagree with any of these conclusions, they have an opportunity through the national Traveller accommodation consultative committee to bring forward evidence that this not the case. I would certainly be prepared to review the situation if I got evidence.

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