Eoin Ó Broin (Dublin Mid West, Sinn Fein)
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I thank the Minister of State and Mr. O'Connor for their presentations. I have a couple of comments and specific questions. First, I welcome the report. It is an important publication. There is not necessarily much new information in it in terms of what we know anecdotally from our own experience, but I welcome that it lays out clearly and unequivocally the problems that the Traveller accommodation programmes have been experiencing.

I also welcome the Minister of State's proposals to set up an expert group and his desire for that expert group to report back in a speedy fashion. In my view, it would be good if all changes, if there are any arising out of that, would be implemented well in advance of next year's local government elections so that can inform the new Traveller accommodation programmes.

I also want to put on record that if the Minister of State comes back with positive proposals that will address some of the problems outlined in the report, he will have my party's full support, both here and in local authorities, but I would also like to see this committee play a constructive role over the period of time of that expert group and the subsequent policy or legislative changes. That is a positive contribution we could make.

The report confirms the scandal of the way in which Traveller accommodation programmes are rolled out by most local authorities. Some local authorities are worse than others, but that just has to be stated. While the Minister of State correctly said that in the most recent period there was a 67% drawdown, in fact, last year was the worst year of drawdown that I am aware of. A total of 45% of funding was drawn down last year by local authorities. That is the largest underspend in recent times. It also means, both in 2016 and 2017, that none of the modest funding increases by Government were spent. The amount of money that was spent last year is marginally above that spent the year before, which was marginally above that spent the year before that, and people are not taking advantage of those modest increases, which is a real problem.

We have to be honest about this. Our problems are twofold, namely, some politicians and some county managers or senior managers. I note Mr. O'Connor states the problem is the planning process. The planning process is an abstract element. It is what people do or do not do with that process that is the real problem. We must get into the business of naming and shaming - not for party political advantage - those local authorities and individuals who are denying people access to adequate and appropriate accommodation, because that is what this is really about.

It is not enough for us to talk about volume. We need to see this money spent and we need to see more money allocated, but we also need to talk about quality. The comments that the report and Mr. O'Connor highlighted in terms of maintenance are really important. The South Dublin County Council area, part of which I represent, would have a reputation as having maybe a better record of Traveller accommodation provision than some local authority areas, but I have recently visited half of the 11 sites in my half of the local authority area and one could describe few of those sites as adequate. Meaning no disrespect to the good people who are living there, I would not live in them. The quality of the accommodation and the services in those locations are not adequate and quality is key. Choice is also key. Where Traveller families want Traveller-specific accommodation, that must be provided in appropriate locations. Where people want other choices, those should be provided, within reason and within resources.

What has the Minister of State, Deputy English, and the Department been doing over the past two years since this Government was formed to address the current underspends? Particularly last year, how is it that local authorities can get away with a 45% underspend? Some local authorities are spending nothing. South Dublin County Council - I will name and shame the local authority area I am in - spent not a single cent of its €1 million plus allocation last year. What role is the Minister of State and his officials playing to address that? Notwithstanding the fact that the Minister of State has a review group, what will he do this year to ensure that when we look at the figures at the end of 2018, we do not have the same problem?

In terms of the research report, will Mr. O'Connor be more specific about the problems? I understand him citing the planning process. What bits of the planning process is Mr. O'Connor referring to? Is it that councillors are delaying Part VIII planning applications? Is it that managers are not bringing forward Part VIII applications? Is it that councillors or managers are blocking section 183 land disposals? What are the problems? If we are to overcome them in policy and legislative changes, we need to know what those are.