Malcolm Noonan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Green Party) | Oireachtas source

I am familiar with the matter from many of my Traveller friends in my home town, whom I have seen in conditions that have been completely inadequate. I have also seen great strides being made. There is no doubt that Government is committed to ensuring that the actions the Deputies spoke about will be met in terms of resourcing. It is important, particularly in the depths of winter, that Traveller families are not living in substandard conditions. It is unacceptable.

The Housing (Traveller Accommodation) Act 1998 provides that local authorities have a 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 to meet the identified accommodation need. The role of the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage 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.

The Department originally introduced a pilot preferential caravan loan scheme in a selected number of local authorities over a six-month period from July to December 2021, following consultation with local authorities and other stakeholders. The pilot scheme was introduced under section 25 of the Traveller Accommodation Act 1998 to support the provision of Traveller-specific accommodation. The purpose of the scheme was to enable local authorities to provide loans to Travellers to purchase their own caravans or mobile homes for use as their primary residence on a halting site at a preferential rate. Loans may be advanced to an applicant assessed by the local authority as being in need of accommodation either on the social housing waiting list or in need of an upgraded caravan or mobile home as their principal residence and not in a position to provide for same partially or fully from their own resources.

In this initial pilot, a small number of loans were drawn down and, consequently, the evidence base was insufficient to support an enduring scheme. The Department expanded the pilot nationwide, following approval from the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform. A circular was issued from the Department to all local authorities in July 2022 outlining details of the expanded pilot caravan loan scheme. As this is a pilot scheme, there is provision for up to 75 caravans or €3 million in expenditure, whichever is the lesser, nationwide until the end of 2022. The uptake so far has been positive, with strong demand across local authorities, which is probably reflective of increasing family numbers and sizes.

At the end of this expanded pilot, a review will be carried out by the Department with input from local authorities and other stakeholders and a report will be made to the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform. Options for an enduring scheme will then be considered at the conclusion of this process. Meeting the needs of all Traveller communities, as demonstrated by the pilot caravan loan scheme, continues to be a priority for local authorities and the Department and my colleagues, the Minister, Deputy Darragh O'Brien, and Minister of State, Deputy Peter Burke.

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