John McGuinness (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fianna Fail)
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To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government if he will approve an application from Kilkenny County Council for funding to provide modern and appropriate accommodation at an area (details supplied) in County Kilkenny; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42947/12]

Phil Hogan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fine Gael)
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In accordance with the provisions of the Housing (Traveller Accommodation) Act, 1998, responsibility for the assessment of the accommodation needs of Travellers and the preparation, adoption and implementation of multi-annual Traveller Accommodation Programmes, designed to meet the accommodation needs of Travellers, rests with individual housing authorities. 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 issued approval in principle to Kilkenny County Council in July 2011 for the development of a Group Housing Scheme at St. Catherine’s Wetlands which will provide for the permanent redevelopment of this site. This proposal is the subject of correspondence between my Department and the Council and clarification on a number of outstanding issues is awaited from the Council. Funding for the construction of the scheme will be considered as soon as these issues have been addressed .

My Department has not received a proposal from Kilkenny County Council for temporary improvement works pending the permanent redevelopment of the site.