Peter Burke (Longford-Westmeath, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank the House for the opportunity to talk about this very important issue. Addressing Traveller accommodation is a priority for me and my Department. There is no doubt that delivery on capital programmes in recent years has been disappointing. The need for investment in Traveller accommodation is not reflected in the level of money drawn down from the capital budget. I assure Senators that I am determine to address the reasons for this and implement all of the solutions.

The Housing (Traveller Accommodation) Act 1998 provides that local authorities have statutory responsibility for the assessment of 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 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.

It is a matter for each local authority to set targets for the provision of Traveller accommodation, which they outline in their Traveller accommodation programmes. The allocation and recoupment profiles for Traveller accommodation projects can vary across local authorities, given the local priorities, circumstances and project timelines as set out in their programmes. These programmes provide a roadmap for local authority investment priorities over the period and form the basis for the allocation of funding from my Department for Traveller accommodation.

It is important to note accommodation for Traveller households is provided across a range of housing options. The majority of Travellers live in standard housing, including local authority housing and housing assistant payment, HAP, supported tenancies in the private rented sector. Funding for these housing supports are provided through the respective budget lines. The Traveller accommodation budget is provided solely for Traveller-specific accommodation such as halting sites and group housing schemes. Accordingly, funding available to provide housing solutions for Travellers is much broader than the Traveller accommodation budget.

I am pleased to say a budget of €21.3 million has been allocated to the Traveller accommodation programme for 2021; this represents an increase to both the capital and current budgets for Traveller accommodation. My Department’s priority is to ensure that full use is made of this funding.

Capital spending on Traveller accommodation has increased year on year from a low in 2014 of €3.2 million to €8.7 million last year. To date this year, €9.1 million has been spent from the capital budget and I expect further drawdown before the end of the year. Although this is an improvement, I fully recognise it falls short of what is needed and the Department continues to work with local authorities to improve delivery.

In addition to the capital funding provided, my Department provides revenue funding to local authorities for specific Traveller accommodation-related supports, such as social worker salaries and the management and maintenance of halting sites and group housing schemes. A total €5.4 million was provided to local authorities to meet these costs in 2019.

A development to improve the delivery of Traveller accommodation is the implementation of the recommendations of the expert group report, which was published in 2019. In 2018, the Traveller accommodation expert group was established to review the Housing (Traveller Accommodation) Act 1998 and other legislation that impacts on the provision and delivery of Traveller accommodation. The terms of reference for the Traveller accommodation expert group were drawn up in consultation with the national Traveller accommodation consultative committee. The expert group comprised the following three members: Dr. Conor Norton, head of school of planning, DIT; Professor Michelle Norris, head of social policy, social work and social justice, UCD; and David Joyce, barrister, Mercy Resource Law Centre.

The report was published in July 2019. The recommendations contained in it will enable the delivery of Traveller accommodation. The topics considered and reported on by the expert group were broken down into four subheadings, namely, delivery reflecting need; planning; governance; and capacity and resources. The 32 recommendations across the four topics considered are comprehensive and wide-ranging, from changes to procedure and policy to changes to legislation. Delivery and implementation will involve several areas within the Department, as well as input from other Departments, local authorities and other external stakeholders. It is clear that the completion of this review and the delivery of this report is a significant step in identifying the best ways to address the issues in the delivery of Traveller accommodation.

I am working with my Department on establishing a programme of projects that will implement the recommendations of the Traveller accommodation expert group review to improve the delivery and standard of accommodation. I will also establish a dedicated programme board to drive forward this implementation. I will ensure the board will include Traveller representatives and representatives from the local authorities, which will be instrumental in driving implementation of the completed report.

In advance of the establishment of the programme, my Department has been working, where possible, to progress recommendations contained in the expert group report. My Department has engaged extensively with stakeholders, Traveller representative organisations and local authorities, as well as with other relevant Departments and Government agencies.Working groups have been set up in the Department with members of the national Traveller accommodation consultative committee. Legal advice has been sought on the implications of implementing recommendations relating to the social housing needs assessment and some of the recommendations relating to planning issues. The Department has already been able to progress some of these recommendations. For example, a review has been concluded of the arrangements for disbursing funding for the provision of refurbishment of Traveller-specific accommodation and the new process is to be put in place at the start of 2020.

The Department is working with CENA, which is an approved housing body dedicated to providing Traveller-specific housing solutions. For the first time, the capital assistance scheme, CAS, funding stream is being used by CENA for the provision of Traveller-specific accommodation. The CAS funding is available to approved housing bodies. They can avail of local authority loans to provide housing for vulnerable groups. I welcome this new development and my Department is committed to supporting CENA in line with the recommendations from the expert group. The Department has also consulted the Central Statistics Office, offering assistance to ensure that Travellers will be properly represented in the next census, which was postponed due to the Covid-19 pandemic. The Department has been providing regular feedback to the national Traveller accommodation consultative committee on progress to date and this will continue. Working together with all stakeholders, we will address each successive issue.

The Department has been working with stakeholders to develop a new caravan loan scheme, which is groundbreaking and offers Travellers an opportunity to own their own home at affordable terms. The proposed pilot scheme is well advanced and I expect to be able to move it along to the Department of Finance for approval in the coming days.

We are all facing the Covid pandemic but it affects our vulnerable communities to a greater extent. The Department has made funding available to local authorities to implement measures in Traveller-specific accommodation to alleviate, where possible, the risk and spread of Covid-19. Funding has been approved for the purchase of additional mobile homes, touring caravans and demountable accommodation units. Funding has also been provided to set up additional temporary sites or to reopen vacant bays to facilitate isolation and alleviate overcrowding. Extra sanitation, water and electricity supplies have been provided. Additional funding has also been provided for cleaning and disinfecting sites and for the removal of rubbish. Where it is not possible to accommodate families in their current locations, the Department is working with local authorities and families to find alternative appropriate solutions.

The Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage continues to liaise with the HSE on accommodation-related issues and attends meetings of the national control outbreak team. Where outbreaks are identified, the Department holds meetings with the local HSE, local authority and Traveller representatives to find a solution that is most appropriate to meet the needs of those involved. The Department has worked with the HSE to develop a national Covid-19 preparedness checklist of Traveller-specific accommodation, including official and unofficial halting sites and group housing schemes. The preparedness checklist will be used collaboratively between the HSE, local authorities and local Traveller representative organisations to identify gaps in facilities required to prevent the spread of Covid-19. Following a successful pilot run in the north west, the survey will be rolled out nationally at the end of October. To date, the Department has approved funding of €3.9 million for Covid response measures, of which €2.5 million has been claimed and paid to local authorities. I acknowledge the Trojan work done by local authority staff since the start of the crisis in delivering front-line services, often putting themselves at risk, as well as the invaluable work of Traveller organisations in representing the most vulnerable members of their communities in a crisis. Their assistance in getting the public health message across to the community has been invaluable.

Since the beginning of the Covid crisis, the Department's advice to local authorities has been to provide facilities where Travellers are currently located, including on unauthorised sites, where it is safe to do so. We have also asked that local authorities avoid moving Travellers where they are in unauthorised situations on local authority land wherever possible. In October, my Department issued a circular to local authorities to reiterate this position in light of the ongoing emergency. It is important to recognise that although this is the preferred option, it is not always possible. For example, where health, safety and overcrowding issues arise, the Department will closely monitor the situation and continue to provide guidance where needed. I look forward to hearing the views of Members.