Gerry Adams (Louth, Sinn Fein)
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284. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government the funding which was available to Louth County Council to develop Traveller accommodation in 2016; the amount of the available funding which was drawn down in 2016; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24213/17]

Damien English (Meath West, 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.

The allocations and recoupment profiles for capital Traveller accommodation projects can vary across local authorities given the local priorities, circumstances and project timelines as set out in the TAPs.  The first three TAPs covered the periods 2000-2004, 2005-2008 and 2009-2013.  Local authorities adopted the fourth and current round of TAPs in April 2014, with the five-year rolling programmes running from 2014 to 2018.  These programmes provide a road map for local authority investment priorities over the period.  They also form the basis for the allocation of funding from my Department for Traveller accommodation.

As part of the annual capital allocation process, local authorities submit proposals for individual Traveller-specific projects and developments which are assessed on a case-by-case basis in my Department, in advance of allocations being made.  Based on submissions received as part of the capital allocations process for 2016, Louth County Council did not receive an  initial allocation from my Department. 

Further funding is considered by my Department throughout the year in the light of proposals received, also on a case by case basis, while balancing the total amount available for Traveller Accommodation Capital projects and competing demands from other housing authorities.  In this regard, there was a request from the Council for funding of €444,484 towards the refurbishment of Woodlands Park, Dundalk as a halting site and this was recouped to the Council during 2016.