Radical legislation to meet the accommodation needs of travellers was introduced by the Minister of State for the Environment, Mr Dan Wallace. While the Bill was generally welcomed, some Government and Opposition TDs expressed reservations about its effectiveness, saying the "rights" of the settled community had also to be taken into account.

The Minister said the Housing (Traveller Accommodation) Bill, recommended three years ago by the Task Force on the Travelling Community, gives legal backing for a "fresh but determined" approach to meeting accommodation needs.

In a potentially controversial measure, the Bill will require the State's 41 housing authorities to prepare and implement a five-year housing programme. If councils fail to do so, the county manager will be obliged to adopt a programme and make whatever changes he/she considers appropriate. Mr Wallace acknowledged these were "strong measures but the situation on the ground is such that it merits this action".

The Bill gives local authorities improved powers to deal with unauthorised temporary dwellings and with anti-social behaviour on halting sites. It also establishes a national accommodation consultative committee, and local authorities will have to set up local traveller consultation committees.

Mr Wallace said the latest figures showed a "worrying increase" in families on the roadside or in unofficial encampments, up from 1,040 in 1996 to 1,127 last year. Up to 300 families were in temporary facilities awaiting permanent accommodation.

Local authorities have had difficulty drawing up programmes, in part due to "the strenuous opposition to proposals for traveller accommodation encountered by housing authorities, a trend that appears to be increasing in some areas".

The Minister stressed the importance of consultation "if we are to address concerns on the part of travellers and the settled community".