Seán Crowe (Dublin South West, Sinn Fein)
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To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government the reason that, out of a total Department spend of €6million in respect of traveller specific accommodation, Dublin City was awarded €50,000 [39075/12]

Jan O'Sullivan (Limerick City, Labour)
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In accordance with the provisions of the Housing (Traveller Accommodation) Act, 1998, statutory responsibility for the provision of Traveller accommodation rests with the relevant housing authority. My Department’s role is to ensure that there is an adequate legislative and financial system in place to assist the authorities in providing such accommodation.

My Department’s 2012 capital budget for Traveller-specific accommodation is €6 million. The bulk of the available funding in 2012 was allocated to housing authorities in respect of schemes already under construction and for schemes approved to commence construction in 2012. An allocation of €50,000 was made to Dublin City Council on the basis of these criteria in respect of the provision of sanitation facilities at Belcamp Lane. My Department is in the process of carrying out a review of progress on Traveller-specific schemes and related expenditure by housing authorities in 2012 with a view to identifying savings and re-allocating any available funds. As part of this process, authorities were requested to submit returns in July, outlining their projected expenditure for the remainder of 2012 in respect of schemes already approved for funding this year and those awaiting approval to proceed. The return from Dublin City Council is awaited and will be considered on receipt.