asked the Minister for the Environment the terms of reference of the Committee of Ministers of State referred to by the Taoiseach to deal with the problem of itinerant resettlement; the progress that has been made by the committee; how it is intended that it will be empowered to acquire land to provide halting sites as indicated in the Taoiseach's recent speech; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

217.

asked the Minister for the Environment when he expects decisions from the Government review body which was established to get urgent action on the report of the Travelling People Review Body which made recommendations on halting sites, health care and relations between travellers and the settled community.

I propose to take Questions Nos. 216 and 217 together.

The Government Review Body, composed of six Ministers of State, has the following terms of reference:

(a) to ensure the urgent consideration by the relevant Departments and public authorities of the recommendations in the Report of the Travelling People Review Body,

(b) to identify and implement those recommendations in the report which are capable of implementation in the current financial situation, and

(c) to examine the question of whether responsibility for selection of serviced sites should be determined at national level.

The review body has been meeting regularly and hopes to report to the Government next month. Pending consideration of that report by the Government, I am not in a position to make a statement on the matter.