Professor Michelle Norris:

I thank the Senator for his questions.

On the emergency powers issue, Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council and Limerick City and County Council have successfully used these powers successfully. There also have been a couple of other instances where they have been used but have failed following a court challenge. I acknowledge that we met representatives of a large number of local authorities and of the County and City Management Association. The chief executives of local authorities are in a challenging position in using emergency powers. Their job depends on working with the councillors, the elected members of the local authority, as regards all the other local authority functions and in striking a budget. Stepping in and using emergency powers is always difficult. We feel that on occasion, it is necessary to address these blockages to delivery that we have mentioned.

In the short term, these emergency powers could be used more widely before the legislation is amended to make Part 8 an executive function for a period, as we have suggested.

On good practice, another challenge we identified regarding the delivery of halting site and group housing scheme accommodation concerns the design of that type of accommodation, taking account of the need for the accommodation of horses and to support Travellers in their activities in gathering and selling scrap metal, for instance. Trying to design and deliver such accommodation well in high-density settings like towns or cities is challenging. Moreover, when local authorities or approved housing bodies deliver mainstream social housing, they also design and deliver it. There is not generally a great deal of consultation with the people getting the accommodation. People are accommodated from the housing list and then move into the accommodation. It is different when Traveller-specific accommodation is delivered because it often is for a specific extended family group that is looking for halting site accommodation together. There is a need for an extended period of consultation in working with that community, which can be very challenging and time-consuming. It is a particular challenge for approved housing bodies. Often, they do not have the wider staff to allow them to do that. Under the funding model, they get the money for the project when it is let, that is, when they get the rent.

One recommendation we made concerns a small organisation called CENA, a Traveller-led body that was set up as a housing association to provide accommodation. It has done some valuable work with different local authorities and in consulting with Travellers who are seeking Traveller-specific accommodation on their preferences, as well as advising on the design. Were this organisation centrally funded by the Department, that also would enable the delivery of more Traveller-specific accommodation. A good example of that is Offaly County Council, where CENA have worked successfully with the council. It is also working with Clúid Housing Association separately, which is another good practice example.