Tommy Broughan (Dublin Bay North, Independent)
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641. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government the applications for approval of expenditure on Traveller accommodation received from each local authority, respectively; the amount involved; the applications which were approved or rejected, respectively, in each of the years 2015 to 2017 and to date in 2018, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47746/18]

Tommy Broughan (Dublin Bay North, Independent)
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642. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government the length of time it took to assess applications for approval for local authorities' expenditure on Traveller accommodation in each of the years 2015 to 2017 and to date in 2018; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47747/18]

Tommy Broughan (Dublin Bay North, Independent)
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643. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government the reason applications for approval for local authorities' expenditure on Traveller accommodation were rejected in each of the years 2015 to 2017 and to date in 2018; if there is an appeals process; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47748/18]

Damien English (Meath West, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 641 to 643, inclusive, together.

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.

Housing authorities submit funding proposals for individual Traveller-specific projects and developments on an annual basis. These projects 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 in the light of progress across the programmes generally. There is regular contact between my Department and housing authorities in order to try to ensure maximum progress and drawdown.

All applications for funding are dealt with on receipt. The timeline for assessment of Traveller-specific accommodation can vary considerably depending on the type of accommodation being developed or refurbished. Traveller-specific accommodation varies from Group Housing Schemes, to Halting Sites with demountables, to provision of emergency mobile homes, to major and minor refurbishments and extensions of existing accommodation.

In the main, proposals for Traveller Accommodation are approved. However, on occasion projects may require clarification or revision based on assessment by my Department. There is no formal appeals process as my Department works successfully in collaborating with local authorities to bring projects to completion.

In line with the commitment in Rebuilding Ireland, and reflecting the disappointing level of overall funding drawdown in recent years, the Housing Agency, in 2017, commissioned a review of funding for Traveller-specific accommodation to date. This review had regard to targets contained in local authority TAPs and actual delivery, the current status of accommodation funded and funding provided for accommodation maintenance and other supports.

Following its consideration of the review, the National Traveller Accommodation Consultative Committee recommended that an Independent Expert Group be established to examine and make recommendations on issues regarding Traveller accommodation policy, strategy and implementation. That Expert Group has now been established and has been tasked with reviewing the Housing (Traveller Accommodation) Act 1998 and all other legislation that impacts the delivery of Traveller Accommodation. I have asked the Expert Group to bring forward recommendations that will improve the delivery of Traveller accommodation nationally.

My Department will consider any recommendations made by the Expert Group that improve the delivery of Traveller accommodation nationally and help to ensure that full use is made of the increasing level of funding available for investment in Traveller accommodation.

The amount of funding approved and drawn down by housing authorities for Traveller-specific accommodation from 2015 to 2018 is set out in the following table.