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

I thank Deputy Ó Broin for raising this issue today and for all the discussion we have had around this topic. I know the commitment is genuine in trying to address the issue. I am happy to have the opportunity to update the House on the Traveller accommodation programme, TAP, and to review the next steps.

In accordance with the Housing (Traveller Accommodation) Act 1998, housing authorities have statutory responsibility for the assessment of the accommodation needs of Travellers and the preparation, adoption and implementation of multi-annual Traveller accommodation programmes in their areas. My Department’s role is to ensure that there are adequate structures and supports in place to assist the authorities in providing such accommodation, including a national framework of policy, legislation and funding. I am also trying to ensure the funding is spent.

A Programme for a Partnership Government commits to establishing a special working group to audit the current delivery and implementation of local authorities’ Traveller accommodation plans and to consult with stakeholders on key areas of concern. This commitment was underpinned in Rebuilding Ireland, which provided for the commissioning by the Housing Agency, on behalf of the Department, of an expert, independent review of capital and current funding for Traveller specific accommodation for the period 2000 to date, having regard to the targets contained in the local authority TAPs and the actual units delivered, the current status of the accommodation funded and the funding provided for accommodation maintenance and other supports.

Following a tender process, a research company was selected by the Housing Agency to conduct the review. The researchers gathered and analysed all TAPs to date and related data from the Department and other sources. Based on this analysis, a series of surveys, specifically tailored to each local authority, was created. Following analysis of outcomes from this survey phase, a number of key stakeholders were identified for consultation. In all, 11 Traveller representative groups and seven local authorities were engaged by the researchers to explore issues arising from the earlier phase of research in greater detail.

Where targets were not met, the review provided an analysis of the underlying reasons, in order to identify the particular challenges that need to be addressed to underpin future progress.

The report was finalised and submitted to the national Traveller accommodation consultative committee, NTACC, for consideration at its meeting on 28 August 2017. The NTACC is a statutorily-appointed committee comprising key stakeholders, including Traveller representative groups, to advise me on Traveller accommodation matters. On foot of its consideration of the report, the NTACC collectively agreed to advise me to establish an expert group to examine and make recommendations on issues regarding Traveller accommodation policy, strategy and implementation. This in keeping with the programme for partnership Government and, as such, I have agreed to proceed with the establishment of the group. I have also agreed that a review of the Housing (Traveller Accommodation) Act 1998 should be part of the work of the expert group. The composition, terms of reference and methodology of the group are currently being formulated with a view to it being put in place as soon as possible. I am happy to engage around that process.

I am aware of the national Traveller survey prepared by the philanthropic organisation, the Community Foundation for Ireland, the work of which I am familiar with in many other cases. The foundation does a great deal of good work and I am happy to engage with it on this also. The survey was not commissioned by my Department and is independent of the Government. However, my Department has taken note of the survey outcomes and, where appropriate, relevant elements of the survey will be taken into account by both my Department and the NTACC in its future Traveller accommodation policy and strategy work. I hope to have an opportunity myself to engage with the authors of the report.

To underline the Government's commitment to providing safe, Traveller-specific appropriate accommodation to members of the Traveller community, €9 million was announced for the delivery of Traveller-specific accommodation in 2017. This was an increase from €5.5 million in 2016. A further €4.22 million will also be paid to local authorities for specific accommodation-related supports under the current budget. These include salaries for social workers employed by housing authorities to engage with Travellers and their accommodation needs, caretaker salaries and site maintenance. Additional funding of €3 million was announced in the budget for Traveller-specific accommodation projects and developments in 2018, bringing the annual allocation to €12 million.

We hope to continue to increase the funding for this area in the years ahead, which is why I welcome the commitment from Deputy Ó Broin and his party to work with us to review the policy and make changes where necessary as well as to ensure that we achieve our targets. I accept that we are going to set higher targets as we allocate more money. I agree with Deputy Ó Broin on that. However, we have to be able to change the way this is delivered to ensure we get the results on the ground across all relevant local authorities. None of us is completely happy that every local authority is playing its part here. It will require all Members working on a cross-party basis to address this and solve the problem. We have a duty to do that. As we discussed earlier, the current element of the budget for this year will certainly be spent. We expect before the end of the year that the full capital spend will be drawn down. It is approximately 67 units out of 90, which means there is a bit of work to do. We hope to get it all spent and fully expect that will happen in the months ahead.

See this speech in context