Dáil debates

Tuesday, 8 November 2016

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed) - Priority Questions

Traveller Accommodation

5:25 pm

Photo of Mick BarryMick Barry (Cork North Central, Anti-Austerity Alliance)
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27. To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if her Department has studied the figures provided by the Department of Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government regarding the underspend of Traveller accommodation budgets by all but one local authority; the consequences for living conditions for Traveller children; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33535/16]

Photo of Ruth CoppingerRuth Coppinger (Dublin West, Anti-Austerity Alliance)
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This question concerns the recent revelations that only a tiny fraction of moneys allocated for Traveller-specific accommodation are being drawn down by local authorities. This has a significant impact on all Traveller families but particularly on children. What is the Minister going to do about this? It has been a problem for several years, not just on her watch. Now that apparently we have more moneys than we used to, it is particularly outrageous that they are not being accessed.

Photo of Katherine ZapponeKatherine Zappone (Dublin South West, Independent)
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As Minister for Children and Youth Affairs, I take an interest in all matters concerning the well-being of children. I am particularly conscious of the plight of vulnerable groups, including Traveller children, who we are committed to supporting.

The Department of Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government has informed me that housing authorities are responsible for the assessment of the accommodation needs of Travellers, as well as the preparation, adoption and implementation of multi-annual Traveller accommodation programmes in their areas.

I am conscious that to date, just €1.729 million of the €5.5 million allocated for Traveller accommodation for 2016 has been drawn down. However, it is usual that the bulk of capital-related expenditure for Traveller-specific accommodation occurs in the last quarter of the year, having regard to lead-in times for planning, design and construction of capital projects. To ensure maximum expenditure and delivery of accommodation, local authorities submit quarterly profiles of expenditure to the Department of Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government. In this regard, I am assured expenditure during 2016 is being closely monitored by that Department. Contact is ongoing with every relevant local authority to ensure drawdown is maximised. I will work with my colleague, the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government, Deputy Simon Coveney, to ensure this capital funding is utilised to the full.

Current funding for accommodation-related supports operates in tandem with the capital programme. Current funding of €4.3 million is being provided in 2016. Over €3.2 million has been recouped to local authorities in 2016 to date, of which €0.943 million was self-funded by local authorities from surplus local property tax receipts. A similar level of current funding will be provided in 2017.

I am pleased to note that capital funding of €9 million is being provided for Traveller-specific accommodation in 2017, an increase of €3.5 million, 64%, on the 2016 allocation. This is the second consecutive year the Traveller accommodation capital budget has been increased. Included in this is provision to assist local authorities with the costs of capital works arising from the fire safety review of Traveller-specific accommodation.

5:35 pm

Photo of Ruth CoppingerRuth Coppinger (Dublin West, Anti-Austerity Alliance)
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I hope the Minister is not suggesting there will be a sudden rush in the last quarter to produce Traveller-specific accommodation plans. If so, she is obviously oblivious to the fact that this has been going on for years. It was going on during the boom, when councils had a lot more money than they have now. In fact, Travellers from the Blanchardstown Traveller groups staged a demonstration several years ago outside the offices of Fingal County Council.

Let me give the Minister a few startling facts. Some 29% of the funds allocated to local authorities have been drawn down. There is no point in talking about increasing them if they are not even using what they are getting. Five thousand five hundred and eighty-four Travellers are in unsafe and overcrowded accommodation. Five children died last year in one incident in Foxrock. Normally when people die in Foxrock, we hear a hell of a lot more about it.

Dublin City Council has drawn down only 17% of its allocation. It has no plans in its books to build any accommodation in 2017. I have checked this with Dublin city councillors. Galway has the highest number of Travellers seeking accommodation but the council has drawn down only 3.25% of its allocation. Hats off to Clare and Kildare, which spent 0% of their allocations. This is a problem that they have no interest in acting upon. It is a really systemic problem.

Photo of Katherine ZapponeKatherine Zappone (Dublin South West, Independent)
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I share Deputy Coppinger's concerns over these issues. I have shared them for a number of years. I wish to make a couple of points on what the Deputy said. I am glad she put her remarks on the public record. I hope this will encourage our Minister specifically responsible for what we are now speaking about to be motivated to ensure, or find ways to ensure, there is a drawdown.

The Action Plan for Housing and Homelessness provides for the commissioning by the Housing Agency of an expert independent review of Traveller accommodation expenditure and the delivery of units, having regard to the targets contained in the local authority Traveller accommodation programme. That review has commenced and is due to be completed in the second quarter of 2017. The review will provide factual information and will be a key platform for the special working group to progress its work effectively, as committed to in the programme for Government. That working group will be established as soon as possible after the completion of the review.

The other point raised concerned the conditions for Traveller children, particularly regarding the accommodation issues we are speaking about. It is in this regard that my Department will have more responsibility. Things are going on in that regard.

Photo of Ruth CoppingerRuth Coppinger (Dublin West, Anti-Austerity Alliance)
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I should also have said hats off to Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council, which has not drawn down any of its funds, despite the fact a tragedy took place in its area. Apparently, the Ballyogan work is under way and the money will be recouped retrospectively.

The Traveller infant mortality rate is 12 children per 1,000. That is a shocking figure in a so-called developed country. The rate is four times that of the settled population. I am sure the Minister knows the causes of infant mortality are associated with sanitation, access to medical care and access to clean drinking water. Many of the bays for Travellers do not have electricity. This is simply unacceptable.

The housing committee tried to reach an agreement whereby councils would be overridden, if necessary. This is because there is clearly a problem with councillors from a couple of the big parties, in particular, and also among other parties and independents, in respect of allowing Traveller-specific accommodation.

Could I ask the Minister about something I know she could do? I realise this may take time and it is not specifically her responsibility; it is that of the Minister responsible for housing. Could she end the education cuts that have affected Travellers, including Traveller children, since the period of the bailout, particularly in respect of visiting teachers?

Photo of Katherine ZapponeKatherine Zappone (Dublin South West, Independent)
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On that question, I raised the matter with the Minister for Education and Skills, Deputy Richard Bruton.

With regard to some of the Deputy's initial comments in her final contribution, my Department allocates funding - €220,000 in total in 2016 - to a number of projects and organisations working specifically with young Travellers. The overall objective of the funding to the youth sector is to support the personal and social development of young people outside, but complementary to, the formal education system. It places particular emphasis the youth work needs of young people between the ages of ten and 21 who experience social or economic disadvantage.

In taking up my Ministry, I took the chair of the consortium on Better Outcomes, Brighter Futures, the national strategy for children and young people. A number of objectives, particularly in regard to Traveller and Roma children, have been identified. I am overseeing and chairing the consortium to ensure, to the extent that I can and within my Ministry, we move towards tackling the inequalities in health, education and other areas for Traveller children.