Jonathan O'Brien (Cork North Central, Sinn Fein)
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209. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government the detail of the budget funding of €12 million said to support a range of Traveller specific accommodation schemes and deliver 110 homes in 2018; the way in which, and locations where, these homes will be delivered; the number of these homes that are designated for the Cork area; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44128/17]

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.

The current round of TAPs were adopted in 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. 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.

Local authorities submit funding proposals for individual Traveller-specific projects and developments on an annual basis, which are assessed on a case-by-case basis in my Department in advance of allocations being made. In addition, further funding may be considered by my Department throughout the year, also on a case by case basis, in the light of progress across the programme generally. The number of traveller accommodation units to be delivered in all local authority areas, including Cork, will be finalized in the context of the 2018 funding allocations early next year.