Sorca Clarke (Longford-Westmeath, Sinn Fein)
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647. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government the number of units available for Traveller accommodation by county in tabular form. [39607/21]

Peter Burke (Longford-Westmeath, 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.  The 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.  

Each year local authorities undertake the “Annual Estimate of accommodation  of Travellers Families” (formally the “Annual Count”) on the last Friday of November. It provides a useful indication of the housing situation of Traveller families and can be used to track changes in that position year on year. 

The attached table contains data collated as part of the 2019 Annual Estimate. The 2020 data is not yet available, the collation of which has been delayed due to Covid.

Jennifer Carroll MacNeill (Dún Laoghaire, Fine Gael)
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649. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government the budget for Traveller accommodation in the Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown local authority area; the amount spent to date or most recently of this budget; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39625/21]

Peter Burke (Longford-Westmeath, Fine Gael)
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In accordance with the Housing (Traveller Accommodation) Act 1998, the role of my Department is to ensure that there are adequate structures and supports in place to assist housing authorities in providing accommodation for Travellers, including a national framework of policy, legislation and funding.

Following a review of the arrangements for the disbursement of funding for the provision and related supports of Traveller specific accommodation a new allocation process was implemented for 2020. My Department has ceased the practice of allocating specific budgets to individual local authorities. Instead, it is open to all local authorities to apply for and drawdown funds at any time throughout the year and this is actively encouraged by my Department. 

My Department’s overall capital and current budgets for Traveller accommodation and support in 2021 is €21.381million. Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council has not recouped funds from this budget to date in 2021.