Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 26 October 2017
29. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government his views on the findings of the independent review of funding for Traveller specific accommodation and the implementation of traveller accommodation programmes; and his plans to address the problems in the delivery of traveller specific accommodation identified in the report. [45347/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Programme for a Partnership Government commits to establishing a special working group to audit the current delivery and implementation of local authorities' Traveller Accommodation Plans (TAPs), to consult with stakeholders on key areas of concern and to report on the delivery of safe, culturally appropriate accommodation.
To support the advancement of this commitment, the Housing Agency has undertaken a review of expenditure on, and delivery of, Traveller-specific accommodation, in order to assist and inform the work of the special working group.
The report was finalised and submitted to the National Traveller Accommodation Committee (NTACC) for consideration at its meeting on 28 August 2017. The NTACC is a statutorily appointed Committee, comprising key stakeholders, including Traveller representative groups, to advise the Minister in relation to Traveller accommodation matters. On foot of its considerations of the report, the NTACC agreed to advise me to establish an Expert Group to examine and make recommendations on issues regarding Traveller accommodation policy, strategy and implementation. This is in keeping with the Programme for Partnership Government and I have agreed to proceed with the establishment of this Expert Group.
I have also agreed that a review of the Housing (Traveller Accommodation) Act 1998 should be part of the work of the Expert Group. The composition, terms of reference and methodology of this Expert Group are currently being formulated with a view to it being in place as soon as possible.
