Finian McGrath (Dublin Bay North, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I accept the point on Traveller accommodation and health and mortality issues. Nobody is disputing those points and I accept that we must respond to them. In my response on behalf of the Minister, I stated the exceptional needs payments and the option of contacting the local Intreo office could deal with heating cost issues. I will bring the local authority planning permission matter to the attention of the appropriate Minister as there is a problem that we can see very clearly.

The Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government, Deputy Eoghan Murphy, is currently considering the recommendations made by the expert group on Traveller accommodation with a view to implementing appropriate actions and policies to improve the delivery of Traveller accommodation nationally and help to ensure full use is made of the increasing level of funding available for addressing investment in Traveller accommodation. The budget is there and it needs to be rolled out. We will need support for that plan as well.

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