Oireachtas Joint and Select Committees
Thursday, 7 December 2023
Committee on Key Issues affecting the Traveller Community
Traveller Accommodation: Discussion (Resumed)
Mr. John O'Sullivan:
Down the road, it could be a loan scheme. There was a huge development in Cork recently by the Office of Public Works for Ukrainian families. The figure came in at approximately €165,000 for a modular home that houses an individual family and they are fantastic. Traveller families, if they had an option of a good-quality decent warm home, would gladly pay a rent every week for it. It is a more sustainable and viable option going forward than, and going back to Ms Kelly's point, the caravan not out-seeing the €40,000 loan. A more sustainable option needs to be looked at. If it is a figure like €165,000 that needs to be looked at, Travellers would gladly contribute towards that in terms of rent and it would pay for itself over a period of time. Those have a 50-year lifespan.