Bríd Smith
Ceist:1682. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government the amount it would cost to fully restore all cuts to the Traveller accommodation budget. [36412/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraWednesday, 26 July 2017
Ceisteanna (1682)
Freagraí scríofa
In accordance with the Housing (Traveller Accommodation) Act 1998, housing authorities have statutory responsibility for the assessment and delivery of the accommodation needs of Travellers through 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 traveller-specific accommodation, including a national framework of policy, legislation and funding.
Local authorities adopted the fourth round of Traveller Accommodation Programmes in 2014, with the five-year rolling accommodation programmes running from 2014 to 2018. These programmes provide a road map for local authority investment priorities over the period. They also form the basis for the allocation of funding from the Department for Traveller accommodation, on foot of proposals received from local authorities and subject to approval from my Department.
Traveller-specific accommodation is funded by means of 100% capital funding from my Department. Capital funding of €9m for Traveller-specific accommodation is being provided in 2017, an increase of €3.5m (64% increase) on the 2016 allocation. This is the third consecutive year that the capital budget has been increased. My Department also provides current funding for accommodation-related supports to operate in tandem with the capital programme. Current funding of €4.3m is being provided in 2017.
Funding allocated from 2008 to date is set out in the following table.
|
Year |
Capital |
Current |
|
2008 |
€40,000,000 |
€7,173,000 |
|
2009 |
€35,000,000 |
€7,173,000 |
|
2010 |
€35,000,000 |
€6,673,000 |
|
2011 |
€15,000,000 |
€6,439,000 |
|
2012 |
€6,000,000 |
€4,000,000 |
|
2013 |
€4,000,000 |
€3,500,000 |
|
2014 |
€3,000,000 |
€3,250,000 |
|
2015 |
€4,300,000 |
€4,000,000 |
|
2016 |
€5,500,000 |
€4,220,000 |
|
2017 |
€9,000,000 |
€4,220,000 |