Eoin Ó Broin (Dublin Mid West, Sinn Fein)
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1624. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government the spend on Traveller accommodation in each of the years 2014 to 2016, and to date in 2017; and the number of accommodation units provided in each year. [35152/17]

Eoghan Murphy (Dublin Bay South, Fine Gael)
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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.

In 2014, local authorities adopted the fourth round of Traveller Accommodation Programmes, 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 Traveller Accommodation capital budget has been increased.  Over €870,000 has been recouped to Local Authorities to date in 2017. 

My Department also provides current funding for accommodation-related supports, such as social workers' salaries and sites maintenance, to operate in tandem with the capital programme. Current funding of €4.3m is being provided in 2017, with over €2.1m recouped to local authorities to date.

While the funding recouped to Local Authorities by my Department supports the development and construction of traveller-specific accommodation, such as halting site bays and Traveller group housing, it is open to Travellers to opt for any form of State-supported accommodation, including local authority social housing, private rental accommodation with supports under Housing Assistance Payment/Rent Supplement.  Local Authorities utilise the full range of suitable accommodation options in the planning and delivery of their TAPs.

The information requested by the Deputy for the years 2014-2016 and 2017 to date is set out in the tables.  The number of units delivered in 2017 will be quantified at end-year.

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