Mr. John O'Sullivan:

The Traveller Visibility Group and the Cork Traveller Women's Network, along with Traveller families and local authority officials, have been told that the caravan loan scheme is the only show in town in terms of new Traveller accommodation at present and for the foreseeable future. Since the scheme was launched in Cork city there have been 37 applicants and only five allocated loans, leaving 32 applicants on the waiting list. As it stands, it will take a minimum of seven years for this waiting list to be cleared, not allowing for new applicants who may seek the loan in the future.

If this is the only Traveller accommodation available at present and there has been no additional Traveller accommodation built in Cork over the past 30 years, the caravan loan scheme will not be able to address the urgent housing crisis that Travellers have faced in Cork for decades. Most Travellers, who are eligible for social housing wait a minimum of ten years to be allocated a house.

The distribution of caravan loans available across the country was based on population of Travellers in an area rather than being based on demand and need, which has caused issues. While local authorities, Traveller organisations and the wider Traveller community have all expressed their concerns and dissatisfaction with the caravan loan scheme being the only available option for Traveller accommodation, the Department of housing has offered no alternatives.

Travellers should not be asked to take out a €40,000 loan for a temporary accommodation solution while they await long-term accommodation. They are the only ethnic group being asked to take out a loan for a social housing option. We feel this practice is discriminatory and not fit for purpose.