Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 27 July 2021
650. Deputy Jennifer Carroll MacNeill asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of the Traveller community who live in the Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown local authority area; the number of halting sites in the area; the number of members and or families in the Traveller community that are in homeless accommodation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39626/21]
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 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 annual count estimate conducted by the local authority in 2019 reported that there were 139 Traveller families living in the Dún Laghaire-Rathdown local authority area. Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council also report that they have 7 authorised Traveller halting sites, 2 emergency halting sites and advise of one further unauthorised site on private land.
The Department publishes a detailed monthly report on homelessness, based on data provided by housing authorities. The Report outlines details of individuals utilising State-funded emergency accommodation arrangements that are overseen by housing authorities. The Reports are available on the Department's website at the following link: www.gov.ie/en/collection/80ea8-homelessness-data/. The Department does not collate specific data relating to ethnicity for the purposes of provision of emergency accommodation for homeless households.
