Councils could be sued by Travellers

LOCAL authorities could face an avalanche of legal actions for failing to provide sufficient halting sites for Travellers.

According to Travellers' rights organisations, only two councils Donegal and Westmeath have so far taken proper steps to implement a statutory programme to provide accommodation that meets the specific needs of Travellers who choose to roam.

Of the 2,200 units of accommodation recommended in the 1995 Government Task Force on Travellers only 251 extra units of halting site accommodation has been provided. Only 757 of 900 housing units recommended were built.