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

I thank Senators for their contributions on this important issue. I assure the House that I am fully committed to resolving it, including the underspend by various local authorities. It is a significant underspend, which I was keen to point out in my opening statement.We have to acknowledge when things are not working. When I was advised that I would be taking over this role one of my key tasks was to try to rectify this.

Senator Fitzpatrick was keen to point out the recommendations from the expert group report. When I was first appointed to this role I immediately met the national Traveller accommodation consultative committee because it was very important that I hear the views of the Travelling community. The expert group report is wide-ranging and recommends legislative and planning changes for local authorities and changes in the way they do their business in liaising with the Department on spending this money. It is important that we resolve to implement the report which is why I am very keen to appoint a programme board to quickly implement and drive its recommendations.

I acknowledge Senator Flynn's excellent contribution. Genuine contributions like hers are what we want to hear in this House. I am very grateful for the suggestions the Senator made. I am keen to meet her at the earliest opportunity and my office will contact her. It is important that we sit down together to try to address some of the concrete proposals that the expert group brought to the table and we will do this quickly.

On some of the other issues raised, I hope the caravan loan scheme will be approved by the Department of Finance in the coming days. That scheme is key to showing respect for the ethnicity of Travellers and their way of life by not forcing them into other accommodation or roles. It is important that we get this funding approved as this was part of the process in the consultative committee.

The expert group touched on a significant number of areas such as planning, CSO data and how they are compiled, and aligning development plans with Traveller accommodation plans. All of that detail, which was raised by Senators, is noted in the report. It is very important that we drive these issues through the programme board that I have spoken about. This Government takes a serious approach to this area, which is borne out in its actions of putting the report together, having it published and establishing a programme board to drive forward its delivery. That will make a difference. There are a number of issues with legislation, which does not go far enough, the powers of the local authority system and the oversight that central government has in this regard. There have been shortcomings and I hope this will resolve the issue.

On Covid-19, it is important that our spending is kept high. We have approved €4.9 million of which €2.5 million has been spent. This funding is to be used to respond to any issues in respect of Covid-19 in the Traveller community. The HSE is the lead agency driving forward that response and the Government is keen to respond to any problems that arise in that regard. We will not be found wanting.

We must remember that the fifth anniversary of the Carrickmines fire was last week. Five adults, five children and an unborn baby perished in that event on 10 October 2015. Days like that make one think of the job we have to do and the resolve we must show in trying to rectify this problem and respond with all of the resources at our disposal to ensure the situation does not stand still. We need to move forward with this. I have no doubt I will get support from the House to do that.

I responded to Senator Currie on the funding amounts and some of the issues arising from the expert group. I will check to ensure I have not left anything out.

The private sector is accommodating some Travellers through departmental spending, the housing assistance payment, HAP, and other mechanisms. We are also trying to acknowledge through the caravan loan scheme that this approach is not always the answer.

My door is always open. We are driving forward with the recommendations of the expert group and I will welcome any feedback and proposals that may improve how we do our business. I thank Senators for arranging this debate and Senator Flynn, in particular, for initiating it. I look forward to working with the Seanad in the future.