John Perry (Sligo-Leitrim, Fine Gael)
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Question 88: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if he will make a statement on the progress to date in the provision of Traveller accommodation; the number of families at present on unauthorised sites by county; if present plans by each county council will address such accommodation needs; the expected time frame for such; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36648/06]

Noel Ahern (Dublin North West, Fianna Fail)
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During the course of the first local authority Traveller accommodation programmes adopted in accordance with the Housing (Traveller Accommodation) Act 1998 and covering the period from 2000 to 2004, there was a significant improvement in the accommodation position of Travellers. During that time an additional 828 families were accommodated in standard local authority accommodation. In the same period, 398 new units of permanent Traveller specific accommodation were provided and a further 322 units of permanent Traveller specific accommodation were refurbished to modern standards.

This progress has continued under the second programmes covering the period 2005 to 2008. At the end of 2005 there were 589 families on unauthorised sites, as shown in the November 2005 Annual Count of Traveller families. This represents a reduction of over 50% in the number of families on unauthorised sites, down from a figure of 1,207 at the inception of the programmes. The Table provides details of the number of Traveller families on unauthorised sites in each local authority area.

My Department is currently in the process of gathering information from each local authority on the number of families on unauthorised sites in 2006.

Under the Traveller accommodation plans for the period 2005 to 2008, each local authority was required when adopting their programme, to specify targets for the level of accommodation to be provided during the course of the programmes. On the basis of these targets being realised, it is envisaged that the accommodation needs of Travellers as determined at the start of the programmes, including those on unauthorised sites, will be met during the course of these programmes.