Malcolm Noonan (Green Party)

I apologise to our guests for my late arrival and missing the presentation but I have now read the statement.

I have a couple of questions. The issue of the accommodation of horses was mentioned. In my own county of Kilkenny, we have had a number of horse projects proposed and stalled for years.

It is probably 20 years at this stage. Temporary facilities were put in for horses and then removed because there were development pressures around the St. Catherine's halting site in particular. There has been political interference in it, which is regrettable. Horses are an intrinsic part of Traveller culture and the accommodation of facilities for horses for Traveller families is essential, particularly in group housing schemes, be that achieved through some directive issued to local authorities or a much more supportive role in how such projects can be rolled out. We have seen here in Dublin but also in Offaly where Traveller horse projects have been hugely beneficial to the welfare and well-being of young Traveller men and boys, and also to the welfare of animals. It is important that this accommodation be made for Traveller families.

Separately, I do not know if there is any TAP in the country that has accommodation set out for temporary halting bays for families who like to go on the road for the summer. This is something I feel strongly about. Many families like to travel for the summer. It is part of their culture. Is it something we could give consideration to, perhaps through this committee looking at recommendations at a way families could head out on the road and have facilities where they could pull in during the summer months in particular?

I have a question for Mr. D'Arcy specifically. Dublin County Council has made great progress in the work it has been doing. That is a huge capital spend. I understand there are 30 new builds under way this year. I know that 2024 was a quiet year but that has been explained in terms of activity and lack of activity. It is important that the ambition of the TAPs be fully funded. I would say to the Department that it is important that this ambition be met. I congratulate the council on its work.

I look back at some of the projects in my county, where there is significant overcrowding, families are experiencing significant difficulties, there are challenges in finding either Traveller-specific accommodation or social housing for those families, and development pressures have come up around the sites. It is something that is a wider question for this committee around trying to address these issues and reduce those pressures.

I welcome the caravan loan scheme, the expansion of which has been really positive. It had been sought for a long time. An increase of the loan amounts to €80,000 has been most welcome.

The final point is on the question that has been raised about social workers. It is about wraparound supports for families and ensuring that accommodations can be sustained in the long run. Given many of the challenges that local authorities face, including where accommodation does not suit, there is resistance at local level or, sometimes, where there is political interference, having wraparound supports from local agencies and a collaborative approach is vital to ensuring that young families in particular can sustain a housing allocation, stay there for the long run and be happy in the community they settle down in.