Ms Emily Murtagh:

Deputy Ó Cuív spoke about the implementation, and I echo his comments in regard to the chief executives using their emergency powers. That is an important point and it was one recommendation of the expert review, as was circumventing the Part 8 process. Another piece in that puzzle of national accountability relates to ensuring that Traveller-specific accommodation will be included in the Land Development Agency Bill 2021. Amendments have been put forward to ensure that land designated for Traveller-specific culturally appropriate accommodation will be included in that Bill. It is so important that those amendments pass. It raises the question of why those provisions were not included in the original text of the Bill and why Traveller organisations and allies have to work so hard to have them included.

The issue of funding was raised. It is true that there is a budget for Traveller-specific accommodation to be built every year, which last year amounted to €14.5 million. Nevertheless, there also needs to be resourcing for the expert review. In the context of the programme board that has been put in place, there are project groups, extensive consultation processes are ongoing and the Traveller accommodation support unit is carrying out vital work. We need to ensure that board is fully resourced in order that it will work and the recommendations can be effected within the timelines, given that 2020 was lost in terms of those recommendations because of the delays caused by the Covid-19 pandemic.