272 Mr. Flood asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if there is a monitoring committee established in his Department for the purpose of monitoring the implementation of the recommendations contained in the report of the task force on the travelling community published in July 1995; the membership of this committee; the frequency with which it meets; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4979/00]

In June 1998, I established a committee to monitor and co-ordinate the implementation of the recommendations of the task force on the travelling community. The committee, which is chaired by my Department, is representative of Traveller interests, the four social partners and relevant Government Departments. Since its establishment the committee has met on 11 occasions.

As part of its terms of reference, the monitoring committee is required to draw up and submit to Government from time to time, a progress report on the implementation of the recommendations of the task force. The committee is currently preparing its first progress report for submission to Government later this year.