David Cullinane (Waterford, Sinn Fein)
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273. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government the Traveller accommodation projects which have been approved for funding with Waterford City and County Council; the allocated sum that has been spent to date; the cases in which approval has been granted but funds have not yet been drawn down; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5657/17]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, 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 (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. Approval in principle was provided by my Department in June 2016 to Waterford City and County Council for the demolition of the existing halting site at Kilbarry and the construction of twelve new dwellings, along with the provision of a temporary site for the duration of the works. Total costs of €2.7m were estimated by the Council and my Department is currently considering clarifications received from the Council in respect of these costs. In addition, approval was granted by my Department to the Council in August 2016 to proceed to planning and tender stages in relation to the demolition and construction of a house at Green Road, Waterford. An allocation of €263,000 was made to the Council in 2016 in respect of initial costs for these projects and €13,545 has been recouped to date. It is expected that these projects will progress in 2017.