Mr. Patrick O'Sullivan:

In changing the allocation, we do not allocate a specific amount. The Oireachtas votes a Revised Estimates Volume amount, which was €23 million this year. Effectively, this is on the basis of local authorities making applications to the Department directly. My team engages directly and bilaterally with local authorities to manage these applications and pay them as they go through the process. Clearly, we want to ensure all local authorities draw from this and we engage bilaterally. Therefore, we have meetings with local authorities on a bilateral basis. As much as possible, these take place within the one year but, obviously, Traveller accommodation programmes are the strategic plans to which local authorities operate and they are over five years. They then have targets within that period. For example, there are more than 3,500 targets for delivery in the next round of Traveller accommodation. It is very much a day-to-day process in direct engagement. It is about ensuring that the drawdown is carried through and the local authorities fulfil their obligations from the point of view of public expenditure and demonstrate on a vouched basis where the money is being spent. We will pay it accordingly once we assess it internally in the Department.

With regard to the caravan loan scheme, we listened very carefully to the previous committee, its members and the advocacy groups. A pilot programme was introduced in 2021 that was very narrowly focused. We then moved to a more nationwide programme when we extended the pilot. Towards the end of last year, we did a full review of it. The Minister engaged with the Department of public expenditure and got approval to establish a national caravan loan scheme. This will be critical. It will now be an established national programme. We have €4 million available this year out of our budget of €23 million. Initially, we allocated it on the basis of 50 trailers at approximately €80,000 each. Some local authorities state they do not need to spend that amount. In those cases, we will reallocate the money. Ultimately, we will maximise the expenditure of the €4 million this year. Importantly, there will be roll-over on an annual basis. We expect that similar levels of funding will be available next year and we will go through the application process again.

What we do with regard to the allocation is use the data. This comes to the point Deputy Ellis made regarding halting sites, standards and getting the overall picture. In the first instance, we have the annual estimate. We use the data from the annual estimate to determine which local authorities have unauthorised halting sites and which have authorised halting sites. We allocate the money on a proportionate basis on the needs identified at national level. Ultimately, the local authority has the local experience and engagement.

I have already mentioned the significant change made in 2022 when we added a Traveller identifier to the social housing application form. Effectively, the Housing Agency completes a summary of social housing assessments annually, with the most recent being for 2024. Overall, we have identified that approximately 1,000 Travellers are in need of housing. Interestingly enough, more than 40% of that number are looking for standard housing. When it comes to Traveller-specific housing, there is a very low percentage preference. We are speaking about a 2% preference for a halting site and a 1.3% preference for Traveller group housing schemes. Back in 2022, only 124 Traveller households were identified. We knew it would take a couple of years for it to bed in. The Housing Agency works with the local authorities and practitioners at local level to ensure the local authorities are best prepared to engage with individual applicants so that they complete the form as comprehensively as possible. This enables local authorities to be well equipped to understand the full needs required.