Eoin Ó Broin (Dublin Mid West, Sinn Fein)
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106. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government the status of the implementation of the recommendations of the expert group on Traveller accommodation and in particular its proposals regarding changes to the Part 8 planning and section 183 land transfer processes in local authorities. [22936/21]

Malcolm Noonan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Green Party)
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The Traveller Accommodation Expert Review Report has 32 recommendations which can be broken down into 4 categories which are aimed at:

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

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

3. increasing resources and delivery capacity; and

4. strengthening governance arrangements.

The recommendations have been categorised into separate streams reflecting recommendations that can be completed within my Department, recommendations that require the assistance of other Government Departments and Agencies and recommendations that will require the commission of further independent research.

Prior to the establishment of a Programme Board to drive implementation of recommendations from the expert group Report, my Department has been progressing a number of recommendations and consulting with and reporting on progress to the National Traveller Accommoodation Consultative Committee. For example, a review has been concluded of the arrangements for the disbursement of funding for the provision and refurbishment of Traveller specific accommodation and a new process implemented for the 2020 allocation of funding.

The Programme Board has now agreed a work programme for 2021. Projects are being set up to examine in detail the issues which need to be considered in respect of the recommendations which have been made. The Expert Group Report recommendations in respect of the Part 8 planning consent process and local authority land disposal procedures are included in the agreed 2021 work programme.