Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 11 November 2014
533. Deputy Dessie Ellis asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the funds that have been allocated for Traveller accommodation from budget 2015 and if he will provide a detailed account of where and the way these funds are expected to be spent. [43243/14]
View answer535. Deputy Dessie Ellis asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will agree to meet with representatives of the Traveller community to discuss funding for Traveller accommodation and set a date for this meeting to happen in 2014. [43245/14]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 533 and 535 together.
Details of all allocations to be provided in 2015 under my Department's Social Housing Investment Programme, including the allocation for Traveller-specific accommodation, will be made available following publication of the 2015 Revised Estimates Volume in December.
It is anticipated that the funds available for Traveller-specific accommodation in 2015 will be mainly allocated to schemes which, in line with local Traveller accommodation programmes, are currently under construction, are already approved and will proceed to construction during 2015 and to schemes that will be newly approved during 2015.
Funding for Traveller accommodation is an issue that is covered on an ongoing basis by the National Traveller Accommodation Consultative Committee, which is supported by my Department and operates on a statutory basis under sections 19 and 20 of the Housing (Traveller Accommodation) Act, 1998. The Committee is an important forum through which important matters relating to Traveller accommodation, including funding, can be considered. Its membership includes three national Traveller representative groups and its terms of reference include advising me as Minister in relation to general matters concerning accommodation for Travellers. Notwithstanding the strong participation of representatives of the Traveller community on the National Traveller Accommodation Consultative Committee, I remain open to meeting with representatives of all groups and communities where such a meeting is sought.
