§ Mr. McNamaraTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what progress has been made in effecting the transfer of responsibility for traveller accommodation to the Housing Executive. [123061]
§ Mr. George HowarthResponsibility for providing housing for those travellers who wish to move into settled accommodation already rests with the Housing Executive and many traveller families have been provided with homes in existing Housing Executive estates. In addition, work to provide three pilot group housing schemes, specifically tailored for extended traveller family groups, is due to commence in the current financial year.
It is proposed to transfer responsibility for serviced sites from District Councils to the Housing Executive and provision for this will be included in future legislation.