Gerry Adams (Louth, Sinn Fein)
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687. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government if funding is available to enable local authorities to carry out renovation and refurbishment works at existing Traveller homes; and if so, the procedure for obtaining this funding. [2784/19]

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.

A dedicated budget is in place to fund the delivery of Traveller-specific accommodation including renovation and refurbishment work. A budget of €13m is available for this purpose in 2019, an increase of €1m on the €12m available in 2018.

Housing authorities submit funding proposals to my Department annually for individual Traveller-specific projects, both new developments and renovation and refurbishments. These projects are assessed in my Department in advance of allocations being made. Local authorities may apply for additional funding throughout the year as needs arise.