Professor Michelle Norris:

Senator Kelleher is entirely correct. It is important not to forget the work that is being done at national level in reforming the policy, the procedures and the approvals. No doubt there is more work that could be done, but the information available to us indicates the key barrier is that projects are not being initiated at local level. We sought information from the Department on applications for Traveller accommodation funding as opposed to approvals. Some 100% of applications are approved. We also sought information on the planning process, and the Part 8 process provided a relatively fast track planning solution to getting planning for Traveller-specific accommodation. There is no doubt that there are problems and niggles with all these measures but the fundamental issue is that applications are not being initiated. That is the fundamental reason for the variation between output in different local authorities.

Some local authorities are active, others are less so.