Mr. Niall ? Donnabh?in:

Regarding an indicative timeframe, one of the big challenges and one of the reasons such a significant amount of funding was allocated is because this is going to be a live site. It will need to be managed and phased. At present, Ellis's Yard will facilitate 15 units. As a result, those families will relocate and the site will be redeveloped first with secondary access, which will allow for a better distribution of the families and a better layout overall, making it safer and more secure for all families on site. That will be delivered first and people will then be decanted. It will be a phased process to allow the development to happen. As units are delivered, they will be occupied. There are many complexities to the site because of the large volume of families in a live environment. People want to stay in their homes for the period the development goes on. We need to work that through.

We are looking to get to Part 8 by May of this year. During the procurement process, we will be putting the documentation together in the expectation we get approval. We will be moving forward for tendering of the job immediately upon receipt of Part 8. A build of this complexity will take a couple of years to close out in its entirety. However, progress will be made and seen on the site over that period.

The Deputy asked for my view on a Traveller accommodation agency. Ultimately, that is a matter for the State. From the local authority perspective, we are doing the best we can. We are working diligently and effectively to give effect to not just the TAP but greater level of community engagement with the Traveller community. If the agency is to be established, we will certainly play our part in communicating with that as we currently do with the Department.