Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 20 January 2022
221. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Housing; Local Government and Heritage the reason funding for local authority owned replacement and new caravan and mobile homes for Travellers are only funded to local authorities at a rate of 50%; his views on whether this is inhibiting local authorities from replacing substandard caravans and mobile home in good time; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2783/22]
View answerThe 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 the authorities in providing such accommodation, including a national framework of policy, legislation and funding. My Department does not have a role in the day-to-day running of Traveller Accommodation.
It is my Department’s policy that, where there is a requirement identified by a local authority for Traveller accommodation, it is to provide permanent accommodation insofar as possible, while at the same time respecting the nomadic tradition of the Traveller community. However, cognisant of emergencies which arise from time to time which by their nature cannot be planned for or anticipated, my Department does provides funding to local authorities of up to 50% to assist with the cost of purchase of emergency replacement mobile caravan.
