Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 14 December 2016
115. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government the stage at which the CENA pilot project for Galway is at; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40275/16]
View answerApproved Housing Body (AHB) status was granted to CENA, Ireland’s first Traveller-led AHB, in 2013. As an AHB, CENA has signed up to the Voluntary Regulation Code for AHBs, which will allow them to play a significant role in the provision and management of accommodation for Travellers in the coming years.
My Department has committed to providing funding to CENA to advance two pilot capital projects in Offaly (a Group Housing Scheme) and Galway (a Halting Site) so that CENA can learn and gain valuable experience in delivering Taveller-specific accommodation. Pending statutory regulation of the sector, in order to be eligible for funding for future projects and schemes, CENA will be subject to the new Financial and Assessment Framework which will come into effect from 1 January 2017.
Regarding the pilot project in Galway, as part of Phase 1 of the Traveller Accommodation Plan (2014-2018), Galway City Council put forward proposals to develop a traveller specific halting site in the Ballybane area of the city. The report on the Phase 1 plans has now been considered by the Elected Members of the Council, following detailed discussions with area Councillors, Residents Associations and Traveller families in the community. A further assessment of the site, along with consultations with CENA, will now take place to allow this pilot project to move forward.
