Tom Parlon (Laois-Offaly, Progressive Democrats)

The role of the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government in respect of Traveller accommodation is to ensure that there is an adequate legislative and financial framework in place within which local authorities, including South Dublin County Council, can provide accommodation for Travellers. The Department supports local authorities in undertaking Traveller specific accommodation projects through the provision of guidelines on the standards to be achieved for the various types of Traveller-specific accommodation and by providing 100% funding for the provision of new Traveller accommodation and the refurbishment of existing accommodation.

The implementation of its five year programmes is a matter for each local authority. The Department monitors progress on the implementation of these programmes through reports from local authorities, through each local authority's return on the annual count of Traveller families within its area, including details of their accommodation circumstances, and from ongoing contacts with local authorities. South Dublin County Council also makes available to the Department ongoing progress reports in respect of emerging proposals for Traveller accommodation.

South Dublin County Council adopted its 2000-2004 Traveller accommodation programme in March 2000. At that time, the council estimated that over the lifetime of the programme, additional accommodation would be required for 315 Traveller families. It estimated that a further 62 families would be accommodated on halting site bays vacated by families moving to group houses. It is understood that the council's assessment of need indicated that 74 families would opt for standard local authority accommodation and that 240 units of Traveller-specific accommodation would be required. However, it is understood from the council that the rate of new family formations has been less than originally estimated and that the requirement for Traveller-specific accommodation during the course of the programmes will in fact be 160 units.