Finian McGrath (Dublin North Central, Independent)
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249. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government if he will reinstate the budget for Traveller accommodation, as there are 1,500 Traveller families living in sub-standard, inadequate and overcrowded conditions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38599/15]

Paudie Coffey (Waterford, Fine Gael)
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In accordance with the Housing (Traveller Accommodation) Act 1998, housing authorities have statutory responsibility for the assessment of the 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 that 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.

Accommodation for Travellers is provided across a range of options and it is open to Travellers to opt for any form of accommodation. These include standard local authority housing, which is financed from my Department’s capital allocations for social housing, private rented accommodation or private housing assisted by local authorities or voluntary organisations, and Traveller-specific accommodation which is funded by means of 100% capital funding from my Department. Traveller-specific accommodation includes group housing schemes and halting sites. The local authority Traveller Accommodation Programmes detail the provision and management of Traveller-specific accommodation in their respective areas.

The 2014 Annual Count of Traveller families shows that, of the 10,226 families recorded, just over 20% were in Traveller-specific accommodation. The vast majority are accommodated in either standard social housing or in private rented accommodation. The Count also showed that 445 families (4.5%) were living on unauthorised sites, a considerable reduction on the 25% recorded on such sites when the first count was held in 1999. This reduction is testament to the significant investment in Traveller-specific accommodation over the last 15 years. The level of investment had to be reduced in recent years, similar to most areas of State investment. However, approximately €400m has been invested in the provision and support of Traveller-specific accommodation over the last 15 years.

A provision of €5.5m for Traveller specific accommodation has been agreed in the Budget for 2016. This is an increase of €1.2m on this year’s capital allocation.