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

I thank the Deputy for raising this very important issue and bringing attention to it. I also thank him for his openness to bringing about change and putting the focus on the provision of Traveller-specific accommodation, something which is not happening in many places and Galway is probably the best example. The report summarises and highlights the position as well as can be done. The Deputy knows that I have visited several sites and that I am aware of the difficulties with overcrowding. He referred described them as Third World conditions, but they are certainly deplorable. It is not good enough and not acceptable. Somehow the issue must be addressed and the position changed. I have been provided with a copy of the report produced by the Galway Traveller Movement into which it put a great deal of work. I genuinely want to see progress. This problem has been ongoing for many years and we need to move things on. I was pleased to have the opportunity to open the Irish Traveller Movement's annual conference last November and speak to Travellers in Galway and other parts of the country to hear their accounts of their accommodation issues at first hand. I have also witnessed at first hand some family situations, having visited a number of Traveller sites since taking up my role in the Department. The Deputy is correct - conditions are not acceptable. It is as simple as that and there is no way to sugar coat it.

I am deeply aware of the challenges facing Travellers and local authorities in the provision of safe, culturally appropriate housing options for families, not just in Galway but also throughout the country. Some local authorities do take their responsibilities seriously and want to move on the issue, but others are lagging behind. The system is failing. There is no other way to put it.

It should be noted that, 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, TAPs, in their areas. Local authorities are currently preparing their fifth multi-annual TAPs, which will run from 2019 to 2024. These will outline details of the programmes to be undertaken to meet the existing and projected accommodation needs of Travellers in their areas and the responsibilities of local authorities to deliver. The TAPs will be prepared by the local authorities in consultation with local Traveller organisations, the local Traveller accommodation consultative committees, LTACCs, other relevant community groups and the public in general.

The TAPs will come into effect from September this year. It was felt that it would make sense to introduce them in conjunction with the new councils so that there would be ownership of the programmes, instead of finalising them before the local elections only for nothing to happen thereafter. Notwithstanding this, identifying solutions to challenges in the provision of Traveller accommodation generally is a responsibility shared by all stakeholders. It has to be taken seriously. In line with the commitment in Rebuilding Ireland, and reflecting the disappointing level of overall funding drawdown in recent years, and having regard to relevant findings in relation to the European Social Charter which was referred to, the Housing Agency commissioned a review of funding for Traveller-specific accommodation in 2017. This review had regard to the targets contained in local authority TAPs and actual delivery. Less than 80% has been delivered over the past 20 years and in some years it has been less than 60%, while last year it was less than 50%. It is not where it should be but the money has been provided - it is just not being spent. The budget has gone up to where it should be, having suffered cuts previously.

Following its consideration of the review, the national Traveller accommodation consultative committee recommended to me that an independent expert group be established to examine and make recommendations on issues regarding Traveller accommodation policy, strategy and implementation. I accept that the Deputy does not like reports and this is another report but the consultative committee wanted this and it is designed to move things on. It has taken much longer than it should have done but it was established in September and held its first meeting in October 2018. I have asked the group to report to me as quickly as it possibly can with its review and its recommendations. It has been asked to review the effectiveness, implementation and operation of the Housing (Traveller Accommodation) Act 1998, with a view to examining whether it provides a robust legislative basis for meeting the current and future accommodation needs of the Traveller community. It has also been asked to review other legislation that may impact on the provision and delivery of Traveller-specific accommodation, including transient accommodation, which will address a number of the issues raised by the European Committee on Social Rights and individuals in Galway, Cork and other places.

I expect that the group will provide my Department with a report in April this year. I have asked the group to make whatever recommendations it thinks are needed. It has been given no instructions to come back to me with small changes. I want it to recommend whatever it takes to fix this, once and for all. I ask for political co-operation to help us do this. The housing committee has met the expert panel and has bought into the process. I share the Deputy's frustration at what has happened in the system for the past number of years.

We have also set up a new task force for overall housing provision in Galway city and county, which includes Traveller accommodation. We are trying to drive activity because the targets are being missed by a long way. We are determined to address this as best we possibly can.

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