Eoin Ó Broin (Dublin Mid West, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

158. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government if he will publish a quarterly Traveller accommodation construction pipeline report similar to that currently produced for social housing to enable the Houses of the Oireachtas to track the progress in the delivery of Traveller accommodation under the new TAPs. [29869/20]

Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

My Department publishes a quarterly Social Housing Construction Status Report, which provides information on the status of many of the various social housing new build projects underway nationally. The report includes details of schemes being progressed by the local authorities and Approved Housing Bodies.

A dedicated budget is in place to fund the delivery of Traveller-specific accommodation, based on the requirements identified in the local Traveller Accommodation Programmes (TAPs). The funding supports the delivery of various types of accommodation including group housing, halting sites and the refurbishment of existing units.

As you are aware, my Department is actively progressing the recommendations made in the report of Expert Group on Traveller Accommodation. The 32 recommendations in the Report, include proposals aimed at addressing reporting deficiencies, including how information is gathered and reported as well as strengthening governance arrangements.

I plan to establish a dedicated Programme Board led by my Department and including all the necessary representatives to drive implementation of the Report recommendations. The work will be informed by input from key stakeholders, including those representing Travellers. In the context of this work, my Department will review the progress reporting arrangements.