Alan Dillon (Mayo, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

Regarding the Senator’s question on the implementation of the Oireachtas joint committee recommendations but also regarding the expert group’s implementation, in March of this year, we supplied the most up-to-date positions on progress on the implementation report. We also published the programme board update in May of this year. We have presented two sets of updates on the implementation of both of these key findings. In addition, in respect of the implementation, I recently met the chair of the board, Mr. Niall Crowley, who is leading work on the programme to address the issues, to the input of both the Traveller organisations but also local authorities. That is an ongoing engagement with my Department and officials to drive implementation on the recommendations of the expert review on the working of the issues. We are advancing the recommendations across a broad range of issues. Mr. Crowley referenced issues around governance. They are working to resolve many concerns around governance. There is a research project currently under way on best practice to design Traveller-specific accommodation, arising from my Department and issuing new guidelines on the design of Traveller-specific accommodation. It is important that our Department continues to engage with Mr. Crowley in this regard and also explores the feasibility of an all-island approach on the provision of a network of transient sites. That is important.

I thank the Senator for raising the matter. I think we all share the ambition that we have shared membership between the NTACC here and the NIHE, and that we have closer co-operation in that regard. I reassure the Senator that we are focused on ensuring the national Traveller accommodation consultative committee is working closely. Mr. Crowley highlighted the work of the local Traveller accommodation consultative committees within each local authority. Closer collaboration is important to drive standards, as well as to drive delivery at both a national level and linking that to the local delivery and for us to then come in and support through capital and current expenditure. That is important. We have to make continual progress in that regard. The governance piece is important to ensure that we have accountability and transparency in those who are doing better than others, and try to increase that level across the State.