asked the Minister for the Environment if he is aware of the great hardship being caused to the residents of Foxrock Park, County Dublin, by the presence of traders who camp in the open space in this residential area; the action, if any, he intends to take in the matter; and if he will make a statement on the problem.

I am aware of this problem. The use of land for camping or caravanning is "development" for the purpose of the Planning and Development Acts and planning permission is required. It is a matter for the local planning authority, in this case Dublin County Council, to take whatever action is necessary to deal with unauthorised development in their area. Wide powers are available for this purpose under the Acts and the level of penalties for offences was substantially increased by the Planning and Development Act, 1982. Other relevant powers are available to the local authority under the sanitary services code and the Casual Trading and Litter Acts. Responsibility for the necessary accommodation of travelling people, whether under the normal housing programme, in special schemes, or on halting sites, is also the function of the local authority.

The Minister did not respond to my question. He said he is aware of the problem and then went on to a piece of gobbledegook about the responsibilities of local authorities. Is the Minister aware that this matter of the Foxrock Park area has been going on since last summer? The Minister has spoken about wide powers allocated to the local authorities. Will he say whether the local authorities are operating those wide powers?

In reply to the first supplementary, I have given the required information, that I am aware of the problem and that the power rests with the local authority. I can assure him and every Deputy in the House that when that power rests with the local authorities I, and the Minister for the Environment, would be reluctant to usurp it because we believe those powers should be exercised by the local representatives. The answer to the second question is that I understand the local representatives have taken action and that at a meeting on 14 February a section 4 motion was passed directing the manager to take action under section 27 of the planning legislation in relation to Foxrock Park.

Of course the Minister is aware that we are not dealing with the average itinerant in this instance: we are dealing with what might be called knackers. Those people have been in the estate for almost 12 months, much to the annoyance of the local community who, after all, bought their houses on the basis of quiet enjoyment of their property. Stuck in the middle of this estate are large numbers of these scrap dealers, call them what you will. Would the Minister agree with me that it was necessary for me to bring it to the attention of the Dáil having regard to the failure of the local authority and the public representatives to resolve the matter to the satisfaction of the local residents? Would he agree that was the proper procedure in the circumstances? We have failed——

This is more like an adjournment debate.

The local authority failed in their obligations——

A question please, Deputy.

In the circumstances would the Minister now consider motivating the local authority in the matter and perhaps meet a deputation of the residents in the company of the other public representatives, three Fine Gael and one member of the Labour Party?

I am not sure what precise question the Deputy is asking. I would be happy to meet anybody in relation to this matter.

The Minister failed to discharge his obligations to the people of the Foxrock Park area.

The obligations to the people of the Foxrock Park area in this matter are devolved legislatively on the local authority members.

The Minister failed to discharge his obligation.

Ceist 10. We cannot have a debate on this matter.

I know, I would not dream of having a debate.

There is a tendency in that direction.