§ Mr. McNamaraTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what estimate he has made of the percentage of travellers in Northern Ireland accommodated on serviced sites.
§ Mr. NeedhamA total of 30 per cent. of travellers in Northern Ireland are presently accommodated on serviced sites. That figure will rise to 54 per cent. when sites currently under construction are completed and to 82 per cent. when sites for which district councils have already been given approval for grant purposes are also brought into use.
§ Mr. McNamaraTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many serviced sites for travellers there are in Greater Belfast.
§ Mr. NeedhamBelfast city council has two sites currently under construction which are due to be completed in April and August 1992 respectively. Two further sites have been given approval for grant. When complete these four serviced sites will provide 80 permanent pitches and cater for about 95 per cent. of the travellers in Greater Belfast.
§ Mr. McNamaraTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland whether he has any plans to ensure that sufficient accommodation is available for all travellers in Northern Ireland.
§ Mr. NeedhamYes. While responsibility for the provision of serviced sites for travellers lies with district councils such provision is actively encouraged with 100 per cent. grants available for land acquisition and construction costs.
§ Mr. McNamaraTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what steps he is taking to improve conditions in roadside camps for travellers in Northern Ireland.
§ Mr. NeedhamThe Department of the Environment encourages district councils which have not yet provided serviced sites to alleviate conditions on unapproved328W encampments through the provision of temporary amenities. The Advisory Committee on Travellers, with the active co-operation of health and social services boards, attempts to ensure that adequate medical and social services are available.
§ Mr. McNamaraTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what plans he has to amend the Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) (Northern Ireland) Order 1985 to ensure that serviced sites for travellers are provided by local authorities.
§ Mr. NeedhamThere are no plans at present to do so. The possibility of introducing a statutory obligation on district councils to provide serviced sites is, however, kept under review in the light of the progress being made in site provision.