Arthur Morgan (Louth, Sinn Fein)
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Question 384: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the number in total and by type of traveller accommodation units yet to be provided by each local authority under their respective five year traveller accommodation programmes 2000-2004. [14130/04]

Noel Ahern (Dublin North West, Fianna Fail)
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Local authorities provide Traveller accommodation in accordance with their five-year Traveller accommodation programmes which are based on a prior assessment of need. This assessment takes into account both current and future need having regard to new family formations. While local authorities may not be in a position, in all cases, to make precise assessments of the category of accommodation required, programmes generally allow further consideration to be given to new identified needs for Traveller accommodation over the course of the programmes.

The table provided sets out the overall Traveller accommodation needs, including projected future needs, identified by local authorities in their programmes in terms of the overall number of units required. The table also sets out the details of the permanent accommodation — standard local authority housing, group houses and halting site bays — provided by or with the assistance of the relevant housing authorities from the commencement of the programmes to the end of 2003. These figures which are taken from the annual count of Traveller families, undertaken by local authorities, and from other returns provided to my Department, also include houses provided by Travellers themselves with the assistance of local authorities.