Mr. John O'Connor:

We are pleased to be here this morning to assist the committee in its examination of the issues facing us in Traveller accommodation. The agency’s vision is that everyone is able to live in good quality and affordable accommodation. To this end, our research team has undertaken and commissioned a number of studies on Traveller accommodation, working closely with the National Traveller Accommodation Consultative Committee. Traveller accommodation has been planned and provided for under multi-annual Traveller accommodation programmes, TAPs, since 2000. Each local authority’s programme establishes the scale of the need for Traveller accommodation in the area and the investments over a five-year period that will assist in meeting this need. To date, three TAPs have been completed and the fourth runs from 2014 to the end of 2018. The current programme for Government highlighted the need for an assessment of the Traveller accommodation programmes. This commitment was included in Rebuilding Ireland, the action plan for housing and homelessness, in which the Housing Agency was tasked with commissioning an independent review for the period from 2000 to the end of 2016. The review was to include targets contained in the local authority Traveller accommodation programmes, the actual homes delivered, the current status of the accommodation funded and the funding provided for accommodation, maintenance and other supports. Where targets were not met, analysis was undertaken to identify the reasons for them not being met in order to identify particular challenges that need to be addressed to underpin future progress. The terms of reference for the study and research is in appendix 1.

The agency commissioned an independent review to address these questions, which was undertaken by RSM. The review was based on available administrative information kept centrally and by local government. Local authorities were also asked their views on the implementation of the Traveller accommodation programmes to evaluate progress made under the respective programmes and to identify factors that impede the delivery of Traveller-specific accommodation. Informed by the results, a second phase of the research involved consultation with 11 different Traveller representative groups, at a local and national level, and seven local authorities. This element of the review explored the issues raised by survey respondents in greater depth and identified other concerns expressed by key stakeholders regarding the operation of the Traveller accommodation programmes.

The key findings of the review of funding for Traveller-specific accommodation found that over the period 2000 to 2016, €356 million was spent on providing 6,394 Traveller-specific homes, an average of 376 homes per year. This was below the targets set, which if achieved would have seen an average of 494 Traveller-specific homes provided per annum. In all but one TAP period, spending was below the budget allocation. The summary details are provided in appendix 2 of the submission to the committee. The review found that local authorities are regularly refurbishing properties under the TAPs. In fact, the share of the funding consumed by refurbishments and maintenance of the existing stock is higher in more recent TAP periods compared with the earlier programmes. The reported level of demolition of properties that are in the region of 12 to 16 years old suggests a significant rate of deterioration of homes. Local authority staff consulted as part of the review suggested that the growing need for repairs on existing Traveller-specific housing was slowing the delivery of new homes. The review notes that the level of targeted provision has increased from one TAP period to the next but that the level of allocated funding is below the levels set in the earlier programmes.

When local authorities were asked for their views on the standard of Traveller-specific accommodation in their area, some interesting points emerged. Almost all respondents, in the first survey of local authorities, felt the standard of accommodation provided to Travellers was good. However, when probed, the local authorities consulted reported a mix quality of accommodation, from good to poor accommodation. Local authorities used a variety of ways to monitor the condition of homes delivered under the Traveller accommodation programmes, TAPs, but many participants agreed that condition surveys should be carried out more regularly.

In terms of two specific questions, the first of which is why Traveller-specific properties fall into disrepair, local authorities ranked the most common causes for this as general wear and tear, resident related, both accidental and intentional, and external factors such as criminal damage and extreme weather conditions. Most importantly, as to why there are delays in delivering on Traveller accommodation programme targets, Traveller representatives and local authority employees cited extensive delays in the planning process as a principal cause for the underprovision of homes, that is, the planning process was highlighted as the principal reason for the underdelivery. The process of assessing the need for Traveller accommodation was another key area of concern. Travellers tend to experience higher rates of household growth compared with the settled population. A level of need is identified at the outset of a Traveller accommodation programme and homes are provided on this basis. However, by the time local authorities deliver the planned Traveller accommodation, the homes provided are sometimes insufficient to meet the need on the ground due to changes in household circumstances since the assessment. Stakeholders suggested that better engagement with Travellers and clear guidance to local authorities on the assessment of need would lead to improved outcomes.

There is much more detail in the review itself. I have only provided headline results. We are happy to answer any questions which members may have or to provide further details as required.