Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 28 June 2016
204. Deputy Joan Collins asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will increase the national Traveller accommodation budget from €5.5 million to the 2008 level of €40 million as per the recommendation from the Committee on Housing and Homelessness; and when he will set up a stand-alone agency to oversee delivery of Traveller-specific accommodation. [18307/16]
View answerIn accordance with the Housing (Traveller Accommodation) Act 1998, housing authorities have statutory responsibility for the assessment of the accommodation needs of Travellers and the preparation, adoption and implementation of multi-annual Traveller Accommodation Programmes (TAPs) in their areas. My Department’s role is to ensure that there are adequate structures and supports in place to assist the authorities in providing such accommodation, including a national framework of policy, legislation and funding.
The Report of the Special Committee on Housing and Homelessness, which was published on 17 June, will form a major input into the proposed ‘Action Plan for Housing’ and all of the recommendations of the Committee, including those related to Traveller-specific accommodation, are being fully considered in that regard.
Furthermore, in terms of the delivery of Traveller-specific accommodation and associated funding, the approach to be followed will be guided by the Programme for Partnership Government commitment ‘to establish a special working group to audit the current delivery and implementation of local authorities’ Traveller Accommodation Plans and consult with stakeholders on key areas of concern. The group should report a plan for the delivery of safe, culturally appropriate accommodation.
In order to progress this commitment, the Housing Agency is being asked, in the first instance, to commission an independent review of Traveller accommodation expenditure and delivery of units, having regard to the targets contained in the local authority Traveller Accommodation Programmes. These are 5-year rolling programmes prepared and published by each local authority for the provision of Traveller accommodation in their areas. These programmes are subject to comprehensive local stakeholder and public consultation, including members and representatives of the Traveller community. In parallel, the composition and terms of reference of the working group to be established under the Programme for Government commitment will be scoped by the National Traveller Accommodation Consultative Committee (NTACC), which comprises key stakeholders including representatives of the Traveller community, and submitted to me for consideration. This is in accordance with the Housing (Traveller Accommodation) Act 1998 which provides, inter alia, that the NTACC may advise the Minister on general matters concerning the preparation, adequacy, implementation and co-ordination of traveller accommodation programmes. The independent review commissioned by the Housing Agency will provide factual information and a key platform for the working group to progress its work effectively.
While the timing of the finalisation of the work of the working group will be dependent upon its terms of reference and work programme, I will be mandating the group to complete their report in the earliest time possible.
