Pat Buckley (Cork East, Sinn Fein)
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I thank Dublin City Council and Galway City Council for coming before the committee. I know their time is precious.

I mention the definition of a mobile home. We discussed looking at modular homes as being better value and having a longer timeframe. What would the witnesses' take on that be? It has to do with the preferences of the Traveller community. While we are on housing and when trailers and all of this is being covered - and I will not rehash that - I was also very interested in the education side of it and apprenticeships and so on for Travellers to try to integrate them into the working community. The witnesses were probably suspicious this morning and were thinking the committee members were here to quiz them and find out all of the bad news and bad points. It is not about that. What we hope to do in this committee is facilitate any council in the country, if we can. That is what we are here for.

It is very important to note, and it has come up over and over again, that the €40,000 is a pittance and one would get nothing for it. Forty grand spent on a second-hand trailer is very bad value for money. I wanted to make that point given that committee members are here. Do not be afraid to approach the committee with questions or queries or to say, "Look, we are thinking of something outside the box. Would it be appropriate?", or whatever. If we can facilitate it, we will.

My main question is on how we assist the witnesses in increasing their capabilities to provide those resources, that is, whatever type of homes they have. I would also ask about apprenticeships, education, which is vital, and home-schooling. How are the witnesses getting on with that? I think Ms Fanning said that we do not hear too often that it is fully functioning, which is great to hear.

I will not say any more than that other than to say I am very interested in this and I would definitely back the witnesses 100% on the fact that you might not even buy a decent second-hand car for €40,000, so it is not good value for money.