Victor Boyhan (Independent) | Oireachtas source

I thank the witnesses and the Minister of State for their attendance. This is an important issue, which is one of the reasons for their attendance and why the committee decided to put this in our programme. I apologise for stepping out of the meeting. I was here earlier but had to attend the Seanad Committee of Selection to ratify some transfers and other items. However, I read the submissions and wish to home in on one or two areas. I mainly direct my questions to the Minister of State.

We are told that much of the delay in delivering Traveller accommodation is due to planning issues. As a member of a local authority for many years, I know there are many other reasons for such delay. There are several issues in this regard. We must carry out a root and branch analysis of all planning applications that have gone through a Part VIII process for approval and determine the stage such applications are at. Every local authority has included a Traveller accommodation programme, TAP, in its county development plan, as all members are aware. However, in many cases that is where it stops. The programme is included in the plan and all involved agree that the box has been ticked and the local authority has a Traveller accommodation programme. However, in some cases nothing further happens.

I wish to acknowledge that there are some very good Traveller accommodation set-ups. I lived very close to one with which its residents and the local community are exceptionally happy. As the Chair is aware, that Traveller accommodation, beside the soldiers and sailors public park in Monkstown, is very much a success story. Councillors, including myself, in conjunction with the council executive, decided to put a playground at the entrance to the Traveller accommodation site. The playground is used by everybody, regardless of their colour, creed, status, religion or anything else. It is a clear example that where resources and structures are put in place, such projects can be successful. The playground is being used. The Chair is familiar with it. Children know no division and do not seek divides among people. The commonality in that project is play and engagement, and Traveller children and other children - there is no such thing as ordinary children - are all engaging there. It is an example of how the siting of Traveller accommodation is of great importance. The people who live there are happy, as are local residents and the council. It is a beautiful park and a lovely playground. Such success can happen but requires engagement and constructive thinking. Many people asked why a playground would be situated there but children were playing in it within days of it being opened. I cite that example because I am familiar with it and pay tribute to those from Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council who were involved in the project.

All members know of very successful Traveller accommodation in their own areas. We must get the model and sizing right. We must get people who are happy to live there. However, several Traveller accommodation sites which I have recently visited contain empty units that are boarded up with metal shuttering. When I contact the local authority regarding such units, I am given reasons such as suggested antisocial behaviour or inter-family rivalry. However, the Traveller community, their advocates, the Department and the committee must ask why such Traveller accommodation units are empty and why we cannot bridge the divide and get them reopened.

Perhaps the Minister of State might reconsider reviewing how many Part VIII applications have been made in each the 31 local authorities and how many have been approved. Part VIII applications have a continuous life. They do not end but, rather, stay there. They are approved. We should see why we cannot take action in regard to some of the approved Part VIII applications because to do so makes sense. They have been through a public consultation process and should be progressed. It is a big issue. Local councillors have let some programmes down. There has been opposition from all parties and none to some applications, which is unsatisfactory. However, there are successful projects throughout the country to which we must look and ask why they are successful. I cite the example in Monkstown Avenue which has a community playground at the entrance to the Traveller accommodation. The Travellers, the community and the council are happy. That is what we should be achieving everywhere and I ask the Minister of State to consider the example set by that site. We should conduct an analysis of all current Part VIII applications and then go back to the local authorities, tell them that engagement and consultation has been carried out, issues in regard to the acquisition of the necessary lands have been dealt with, and demand a scheme from each local authority. It would be great to be able to say that within the next few months we would have a scheme from each of the 31 local authorities. We must start somewhere, and that would be a start.