Richard Boyd Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, People Before Profit Alliance)
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272. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government if Longford County Council has drawn down funding for Traveller accommodation in the past four years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31189/20]

Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal, Fianna Fail)
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Longford County Council has not recouped any capital funding from my Department for Traveller Accommodation in the past four years.

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 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.

Reflecting the low level of overall funding drawdown in recent years, the Housing Agency, in 2017, commissioned a review of funding for Traveller-specific accommodation. This review had regard to targets contained in local authority Traveller Accommodation Plans (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 the establishment of an independent expert group to review the effectiveness, implementation and operation of relevant legislation and to put forward proposals to improve delivery of Traveller accommodation nationally. The Expert Group submitted its report in July 2019.

There are 32 recommendations in the Traveller Accommodation Expert Review Report, including proposals aimed at:

- addressing research deficiencies, including how information is gathered and used;

- removing any potential delays and obstacles in the planning system in terms of delivery;

- increasing resources and delivery capacity; and

- 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. The work will be informed by input from key stakeholders, including those representing Travellers.