David Stanton (Cork East, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank the witnesses for their attendance and presentations. The committee has already done a fair bit of work on the accommodation issue and a number of things are emerging. One is that the loan scheme is not fit for purpose at all; I fully agree with Mr. O'Sullivan on that. When we make our recommendations, I will be suggesting that Travellers have a rental scheme like anyone else going for social housing who are not asked to take on a loan for a social house. They pay rent and the house is allocated, and the same should apply here. I agree with the witnesses that it is discriminatory. I do not see why it is done like this; it does not make any sense. Maybe we could ask the Department for the rationale as to why it is doing it like this and why it does not have an actual social provision as with the overall social housing scheme.

I have been asking parliamentary questions on the Spring Lane halting site. The reply that I got yesterday or the day before indicated that on 4 August this year, the Department granted stage 1 approval for the redevelopment of the site with a budget of €12.69 million. On 27 September, a stage 2 application was submitted by the local authority, including a revised estimated amount of €20.49 million, so it has gone up. The Department is considering the application regarding the increased funding sought and the additional information provided by the local authority. I would like to keep the pressure on because if we can get this funding released, the council can move on. It will not have any excuse but to move on to the next step. Part 8 is also an issue and I understand it is going down the Part 8 route which brings me to my first question.

Ms O'Shea said there were 1,000 submissions against the council's adoption of the TAP. Has anyone had sight of any of those submissions?