Eoin Ó Broin
Question:554. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of new Traveller specific units of accommodation provided in 2021, by local authority in tabular form. [1879/22]
View answerWednesday, 19 January 2022
Questions (554)
Written answers
The Housing (Traveller Accommodation) Act 1998 provides that 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 local authorities in providing such accommodation, including a national framework of policy, legislation and funding.
Traveller-specific projects and developments are focused on group housing schemes and halting sites. This includes meeting Traveller-specific housing needs through a range of mechanisms, including the provision of mobiles and caravans; the provision and refurbishment of halting sites; the provision, refurbishment and extension of group housing and the return to use of vacant group housing.
In 2021, the Traveller accommodation budget delivered new group housing, refurbishment of exisiting halting sites and group housing, fire safety works on sites and acquistions (where acquisition is the solution to a specific need identified). A new Caravan Loan Scheme was piloted in 2021, the results of which are currently under review.
The following tables provide information on the number of new units and major refurbishments completed in 2021, including by local authority. It does not, however, reflect the full extent of local authorities efforts to improve existing Traveller accommodation during 2021, provide Social Housing units to Traveller families where requested, or the work undertaken to help prevent, limit and minimise the effects of the pandemic:
|
Halting Sites –New Units |
18 |
|
Halting Sites – Major Refurb |
5 |
|
Group Housing – Major Refurb |
10 |
|
Mobiles |
2 |
|
Acquisitions |
15 |
|
Covid Mobiles |
16 |
|
Caravan Loan Scheme |
3 |
|
Special Grant* |
1 |
|
Total |
70 |
* A special grant of €3,810 payable to Travellers for the first time purchase of a house; or 10% of the cost up to a maximum of €640, to a Traveller family who are purchasing a caravan for the first time.
In addition to the units provided from the Traveller-specific budget the Department provided funding to CENA, a Traveller AHB, through the Capital Assistance Scheme (CAS) for the acquisition of 3 properties for Traveller families in 2021.