Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 10 July 2019
419. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government when the quarterly social housing pipeline report will be published; and if it will include Traveller accommodation. [30263/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department publishes comprehensive status reports on a quarterly basis of all social housing construction schemes for all local authority areas. These reports are known as the Social Housing Construction Status Report (CSR), the most recent of which covers the period up to the end of Q1 2019. The Q1 2019 Social Housing CSR contains scheme by scheme information on the progress of over 20,300 new social housing homes, which are currently approved and progressing through planning, design and construction, as well as homes delivered to end Q1 2019. This report can be found at the following link http://rebuildingireland.ie/news/minister-murphy-publishes-social-housing-construction-status-report-for-q1-2019/.
In relation to Traveller-specific accommodation, a dedicated budget is in place to fund the delivery of this accommodation, based on the requirements identified in local Traveller Accommodation Programmes (TAPs). The funding involved supports the delivery of various types of accommodation, including group housing, halting sites and the refurbishment of existing units.
In line with the commitment in Rebuilding Ireland, and reflecting the disappointing level of overall funding drawdown in recent years, the Housing Agency, in 2017, commissioned a review of funding for Traveller-specific accommodation to date. This review had regard to targets contained in local authority TAPs and actual delivery, the current status of accommodation funded and funding provided for accommodation maintenance and other supports. Following its consideration of the review, the National Traveller Accommodation Consultative Committee recommended that an Independent Expert Group be established to examine and make recommendations on issues regarding Traveller accommodation policy, strategy and implementation. The work of this Expert Group is now at an advanced stage and the Group's report is expected shortly.
In the context of this work, my Department will also review the reporting arrangements on the delivery of Traveller-specific accommodation.
