Catherine Connolly (Galway West, Independent)
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630. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government the funding allocated for Traveller accommodation to Galway city and county councils in each of the past five years; the funds drawn down by each local authority for each of the past five years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46919/18]

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. 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. Preparations are underway for the fifth TAP programme, 2019-2024.

The following tables set out allocations and drawdowns for Galway City and County Councils over the past five years:

Galway County Council

Galway City Council