Gerry Adams (Louth, Sinn Fein)
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101. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government if the national Traveller accommodation consultative committee has submitted its suggested composition and terms of reference for the Housing Agency's independent review of Traveller accommodation programmes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21799/16]

Gerry Adams (Louth, Sinn Fein)
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102. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government the make-up of the special working group which is auditing the delivery and implementation of local authorities' Traveller accommodation plans; when this audit will conclude; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21800/16]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 101 and 102 together.

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 (TAPs) 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.

In terms of the delivery of Traveller-specific accommodation and associated funding, the approach to be followed will be guided by the Programme for Partnership Government commitment ‘to establish a special working group to audit the current delivery and implementation of local authorities’ Traveller Accommodation Plans and consult with stakeholders on key areas of concern. The group should report a plan for the delivery of safe, culturally appropriate accommodation. I intend to further underpin this commitment in the forthcoming Action Plan for Housing.

In order to progress this commitment, the Housing Agency is being asked, in the first instance, to commission an independent review of Traveller accommodation expenditure and delivery of units, having regard to the targets contained in the local authority Traveller Accommodation Programmes. These are 5-year rolling programmes prepared and published by each local authority for the provision of Traveller accommodation in their areas. These programmes are subject to comprehensive local stakeholder and public consultation, including members and representatives of the Traveller community. In parallel, the composition and terms of reference of the working group to be established under the Programme for Government commitment will be scoped by the National Traveller Accommodation Consultative Committee (NTACC), which comprises key stakeholders including representatives of the Traveller community, and submitted to me for consideration. This is in accordance with the Housing (Traveller Accommodation) Act 1998 which provides, inter alia, that the NTACC may advise the Minister on general matters concerning the preparation, adequacy, implementation and co-ordination of traveller accommodation programmes. The independent review commissioned by the Housing Agency will provide factual information and a key platform for the working group to progress its work effectively.

While the timing of the finalisation of the work of the working group will be dependent upon its terms of reference and work programme, I will be mandating the group to complete their report in the earliest time possible.