Ms Caroline Timmons:

I can provide an overview of the budget. Over the past three years, as I said at the start of the meeting, from a State perspective, we have spent more than €50 million in capital expenditure on accommodation. In 2020, the full budget of €14.5 million was spent. In 2021, there was expenditure of €15.5 million, and in 2022, expenditure of €21.1 million, a significant increase. In 2023, €20 million is in the budget again this year. We are looking at it being spent. We have a very significant pipeline in the works over the next few years from local authorities. We have a significant commitment of capital funding. We also have a current budget, which is how we pay for social workers and caretakers on sites, separate from the capital budget. In 2020, that was €5.4 million. In 2021, it was €5.8 million, in 2022, it was €6.3 million, and in 2023, it is €6.7 million. We will seek to increase that insofar as we can next year. It is about looking after and making sure we have all those social workers in place and the caretakers on site. The Cathaoirleach accurately described that it is important they play a key role in making sure there are decent places to live and that rubbish and things like that are controlled. We are conscious of that. We keep increasing the funding every year, which we are seeking to do to meet the needs on sites as we go forward.

The larger question the Cathaoirleach asked is such a big question it is hard to answer. From a Department's perspective, it is about understanding that we are accurately meeting the demand and needs by listening to what they are and ensuring we are getting that message back and understanding each other. We would like, going forward, to have a significant amount of dedicated capital in place for Traveller accommodation and that we really see what those needs are. Local authorities are seeking to do that on the ground through the Traveller accommodation programmes, TAPs, and that communication at local traveller accommodation consultative committee, LTACC, level is happening. The wider social housing budget is contributing massively to Traveller accommodation needs as well. While that might be the budget in this particular unit, there is a huge budget for social accommodation. The vast majority of the Traveller community is accommodated in standard social housing. There is a lot funding going into the area. We are very open to listening to any further requirements that may be put to us.