Duncan Smith (Dublin Fingal, Labour)
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260. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government the extent to which his Department has realised the 18 of the 32 recommendations contained in the Traveller accommodation expert review report and set out as a work plan by the Programme Board for 2021; his plans in 2022 to realise the outstanding recommendations in particular the replacement of local Traveller accommodation consultative committees by Traveller accommodation strategic policy committees; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [61249/21]

Peter Burke (Longford-Westmeath, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 260 and 305 together.

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 Research Report 'Experiences of Travellers in the Private Rented Sector' is listed in the Expert Review report among the key reports reviewed. 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.