Joan Collins (Dublin South Central, Independents 4 Change)
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80. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government if the programme board established to oversee the 32 recommendations of the 2019 Expert Review Group on Traveller Accommodation has recommended the creation at national level of a Traveller accommodation strategic policy committee in every city and county council; if so, when the recommendation will be implemented; and if not, when it will be discussed as part of the 32 recommendations. [57859/21]

Peter Burke (Longford-Westmeath, Fine Gael)
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The Traveller Accommodation Expert Review report, published in July 2019, reviewed the Housing (Traveller Accommodation) Act, 1998, and other legislation that impacts on the provision and delivery of accommodation for Travellers. The Expert Review report, which is intended to improve the effectiveness of the arrangements for providing accommodation for members of the Traveller community, has 32 recommendations across 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.

Delivery and implementation of the recommendations will involve several areas within my Department as well as input from other Departments, local authorities and other external stakeholders.

A Programme Board established to drive implementation of the recommendations from the Expert Group report has agreed a work programme for 2021 focused on national issues and the local level strategic policy committees will be considered in due course. The Programme Board recently agreed to report progress on implementation of the recommendations on my Department's website. It is expected that this information will be available shortly.