Eileen Flynn (Independent) | Oireachtas source

In the past four years there have been some positive changes. It sounds like an awful lot of money to people listening in, but it is about how that money being spent. I know that in one specific halting site, there could be hundreds of thousands of euro. It could be about fixing a door. Poor maintenance is probably the correct term. I have seen the changes in the past four years. This committee has seen some positive changes and we welcome that. We welcome the news from the Department that Spring Lane is being redeveloped. We know the officials genuinely care. Yesterday, we received news that Cena has been awarded €150,000. It is a Traveller authority that works with the Traveller community and for the Traveller community on accommodation. It is important that we work together and say there have been some positive changes, but we must and should do more. I am delighted to hear some of the positive actions coming down the road.

I turn to the Planning and Development Bill 2023. I do not know whether it will the Minister of State or the Minister, Deputy Darragh O'Brien, taking it in the Seanad next week. Some of the amendments we put in will address some of the dire failures on the part of the State and local authorities in regard to the Traveller community. I ask the Minister of State to support some of our recommendations next week.