Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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356. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government the funding that has been drawn down by Mayo County Council for a scheme from 1 January 2019 to 30 August 2021, in tabular form (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42449/21]

Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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357. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government the funding returned to his Department by Mayo County Council for a scheme from 1 January 2019 to 30 August 2021, in tabular form (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42450/21]

Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 356 and 357 together.

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.  It should be noted that funds are held in the Department and recouped to local authorities on the basis of claims received.  Therefore, the return of funds from local authorities to my Department does not arise. 

The amount of funding recouped by Mayo County Council for Traveller accommodation between January 2019 and 30 August 2021 is presented below in tabular form.