Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 13 December 2023
121. Deputy Patricia Ryan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of housing accommodation units in Kildare for Traveller families; and if there are any plans to increase that number. [55564/23]
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 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.
Traveller families live in standard social housing as well as Traveller-specific accommodation (i.e. halting sites and group housing schemes) provided at local authority level. Local authorities carry out an Annual Estimate of Traveller Families in Local Authority and Local Authority Assisted Accommodation and details are available at the following link:
www.gov.ie/pdf/?file=https://assets.gov.ie/276539/9248d855-1f03-42c3-be31-def188fdf7a8.pdf#page=null
Further information on the provision of accommodation for Travellers is available from the local authority.
