Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

Tá áthas orm gurb é an tAire atá anseo inniu, and the reason I am so pleased he is here is that I have raised time and again in this house the issue of Travellers living in caravans, or trailers, as they prefer to call them. Many of these are old and many of them are freezing cold in the winter, and as we come into another winter, this problem is not solved. The Joint Committee on Key Issues affecting the Traveller Community has just agreed a short report with 12 specific, very practical recommendations that once and for all would put this issue to bed and solve it comprehensively for the people who choose to live in trailers rather than in fixed accommodation. At the moment, I think the maximum spend per caravan is €40,000. The Minister knows the cost of one single house. We have had that debate in the House recently. To resolve this with all the trailers that need replacement would not be a big cost.

I ask the Minister to confirm for me today that, once the report comes to him, he will examine it and make sure its recommendations, which amount to one page, are implemented. Each one of the recommendations is practical and doable.

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