Damien English (Meath West, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I again thank the Deputies for their comments and observations and assure them that I am committed to ensuring that Traveller accommodation needs will be met in a safe and sustainable way. I reiterate that safety on halting sites is paramount and I hope that Travellers will feel reassured by the steps that are being taken by my Department in the context of the review of fire safety programmes in Traveller accommodation. Members will be aware that my Department published the report only last week.

While recognising broader issues related to Traveller accommodation, the review process focused on life safety and on the fire safety measures which are perceived to be the most effective in protecting life safety among the Travellers. Recognising that what has been done is a first stage in a process which needs to be mainstreamed into ongoing work programmes, the report makes a number of recommendations to clarify recommended approaches and to embed the issue of fire safety in Traveller accommodation into future work programmes. One of the key recommendations to emerge from the report is that in order to mainstream fire safety as an ongoing item, it should be included as a standing item at all local Traveller accommodation consultative committee, LTACC, meetings. At the same time, it is recommended that oversight of the LTACC's role in relation to fire safety in Traveller accommodation be added to the brief of the national Traveller accommodation consultative committee, NTACC. The NTACC will seek regular updates that LTACCs are meeting this requirement.

I assure the House that my Department will continue to support and work with local authorities and national Travellers' representative groups to ensure the continued provision of safe and secure accommodation for Travellers, in accordance with their choice, and through the comprehensive local and national collaborative structures which are in place. Work has begun on site and money has been allocated. We expect people to be housed there before the end of the year.

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