Eoin Ó Broin (Dublin Mid West, Sinn Fein)
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204. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government the amount allocated to and drawn down by all local authorities for the caravan loan scheme in each of the years 2012 to 2016, and to date in 2017, in tabular form. [40821/17]

Eoghan Murphy (Dublin Bay South, 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. 

One such support is the provision of funding for a caravan loan and grant scheme operated by local authorities.  The scheme of repayable loans, together with a grant element, where relevant, for caravan replacement is a further option to assist Travellers to provide for their own accommodation needs and also to help address the needs of Traveller families who live in substandard caravans or in overcrowded conditions. 

The following table lists the amount of funding drawn down by all local authorities for the caravan loan scheme in each of the years 2012 to 2016 and to date in 2017:

Funding drawdown in respect of the Caravan loan scheme 2012 to 2017