The Minister of State at the Department of the Environment, Mr Bobby Molloy, said he is considering introducing new powers to remove unauthorised Traveller encampments.

He was replying to Mr Austin Deasy (FG, Waterford) who said that statutory controls should be introduced covering the movement of Travellers, especially convoys of caravans, and also making it necessary for local authorities to provide the required number of transient sites.

"This is a burning issue and it will eventually explode. Action will be taken when there are fatalities or serious injuries."

Confirming that the Minister for Justice, Mr O'Donoghue, and himself were examining the legal position, Mr Molloy said that while 30 of the 35 submissions made by local authorities indicated they would provide transient sites, only three had made them available.

He added that until sites were provided, there was little likelihood of local authorities succeeding in court applications to have Travellers moved from illegal sites.

Mr Molloy said that since 1998, a local authority had powers to remove an unauthorised Traveller encampment from a public place where it was located within five miles of an approved halting site, provided alternative accommodation was available.

Subject to the same proviso regarding available alternative accommodation, there was also a general power for a local authority to remove an unauthorised encampment from a public place where it was unfit for human habitation, or where it was likely to interfere with public or private amenities, or constituted a health hazard.

Mr Molloy said that a problem arose this summer whereby huge numbers of Travellers had come to Dublin and adjoining counties.

Sometimes up to 600 people and more than 100 caravans were involved.

He was seeking that all that the local authorities in the greater Dublin area proceed together to provide transient sites in their areas, he added.

"There appears to be a fear that, if one local authority goes ahead and the others do not, there will be an attraction for Travellers to go to that county, resulting in considerable illegal parking", Mr Molloy explained.

Mr Deasy said that Mr Molloy knew local authorities were not doing what he had asked them to do.

"He will have to legislate to force them to do it. I have seen people very annoyed about this", Mr Deasy said.