Denise Mitchell (Dublin Bay North, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister of State. I agree with her. Although the response from the Department speaks to looking to the future, we have to support the families on the halting site in the now. I appeal to her to go back to the Department and ask it to look at the issues this community is experiencing in the context of maintenance. The Department needs to ensure that, for now, the roof is fixed and the concrete bay put in, and then we can go forward with the other plans.

The Oireachtas Joint Committee on Key Issues affecting the Traveller Community published its report last year in this House. The report set out 18 recommendations relating to accommodation for Travellers. One of the recommendations was that an audit of all sites be carried out to examine the living conditions. It is not the brief of the Minister of State but could she ask the Minister for housing whether any of those audits have taken place? If they have not, will she ask him when they will take place?

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