Mick Wallace (Wexford, Independent)
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58. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government the measures his Department has in place to ensure all accommodation for Travellers reaches health and safety standards; if his Department plans any further safety measures, given the recent tragic fire in Carrickmines in Dublin 18; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37495/15]

Alan Kelly (Tipperary North, Labour)
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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.

Following the recent tragic loss of life in Carrickmines, my Department’s National Directorate for Fire and Emergency Management is leading a Programme to Review Fire Safety in Traveller Accommodation. The objective of the review is to take immediate action to ensure that practical and appropriate fire safety measures, which can contribute to preventing loss of life and serious injury in local authority Traveller accommodation, have been applied systematically across the country. This will include community fire safety initiatives. Initial steps have been taken to identify the key issues and consultations with stakeholders at both national and local level, including Traveller Representative Groups, have taken place.

Practical solutions to the issues that are identified through this engagement will be developed on a collaborative basis over the coming weeks. This collaborative approach will ensure that the review is carried out in a consistent and coordinated manner.  The programme to review and enhance fire safety in Traveller accommodation will be rolled out nationally over the coming months and is anticipated to be concluded by the end of Quarter 1, 2016. As well as the enhancements that I hope will already be in place at that stage, it will identify or propose further actions to sustain fire safety which will be given appropriate consideration by relevant stakeholders. 

As provided for under sections 21 and 22 of the aforementioned Act, each local authority has in place a Local Traveller Accommodation Consultative Committee (LTACC). The role of the LTACC is to advise local authorities on the provision and management of accommodation for Travellers, and to provide a liaison between Travellers and Members and officials of the appointing authority concerned. At least one quarter of the membership of the LTACC must comprise local Travellers and Traveller groups, with the remaining members comprising elected members and officials of the housing authority. I see the role of these local committees as crucial to resolving local issues, including health and safety issues on sites.