Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 23 June 2020
904. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the status of the implementation of the recommendations of the expert group on Traveller accommodation; the details of the lead official working on this area; and the number of times meetings have taken place to manage the implementation of the report since its publication. [12281/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe 32 recommendations made in the Traveller Accommodation Expert Review report to accelerate the delivery of Traveller accommodation are comprehensive and wide ranging, and include proposals aimed at:
- addressing research deficiencies, including how information is gathered and used;
- removing any potential delays and obstacles in the planning system in terms of delivery;
- increasing resources and delivery capacity; and
- strengthening governance arrangements.
The recommendations have been categorised into separate streams reflecting recommendations that can be completed within my Department, recommendations that require the assistance of other Government Departments and Agencies and recommendations that will require commissioning independent research.
Due to the number of stakeholders, input required and the wide ranging impact of most of the recommendations in the report, my Department is setting up a programme of projects to progress agreed recommendations. A Programme Board will be established over the coming months and will be managed by an assigned official from the Traveller Accommodation Support Unit of my Department.
In order to determine how each item will be progressed, my Department has sought input and received feedback from stakeholders the County and City Management Association (CCMA), Association of Irish Local Government (AILG), CENA (the Traveller Approved Housing Body), Wexford County Council and the Department of Justice. Submissions were also received from the three Traveller organisations represented on the National Traveller Accommodation Consultative Committee (NTACC) - the Irish Traveller Movement (ITM), Pavee Point and the National Traveller Women’s Forum (NTWFM).
Working groups have been set up in the Department to carefully consider all submissions and determine how best to progress the recommendations. Legal advice has been sought and officials have been liaising with other Government Departments and agencies on a continuous basis.
My Department has already been able to progress a number of short term recommendations. For example, a review has been concluded of the arrangements for disbursing funding for the provision and refurbishment of Traveller specific accommodation and a new process implemented for the 2020 allocation of funding process.
Meetings have taken place with working groups within my Department and with other Government agencies and Departments. Officials from my Department are reporting progress on the implementation of the recommendations of the Expert Group report at the NTACC meetings along with seeking input from them as major stakeholders.
