Kathleen Funchion (Carlow-Kilkenny, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

While this has been answered to an extent, I seek clarification. Were a statutory Traveller agency to be set up, do the witnesses envisage it would deal with the issues of underspending and how some local authorities are not drawing down money at all? Do they envisage such an agency having a wider role than simply with regard to housing? I represent the constituency of Carlow-Kilkenny and money has been put aside at local level for a Traveller horse project in recent budgets but that project is still not up and running. This issue is now entering its third year and although funding has been increased each year in the budget, nothing has been done about it.

The witnesses might also comment on their experience of the health and safety audit that was carried out because I have visited a halting site with a number of caravans that had undergone a health and safety audit. I could not believe it would pass because there were such obvious issues with wires in a highly damp environment in which young kids were staying. I seek Ms Fay's opinion on the audit that was carried out because ,I could not believe it when the local authority told me the caravans had been inspected and had been passed as being safe. I cannot see how anyone could say it was a safe environment for children in particular. The witnesses might comment on that point.