Violet-Anne Wynne (Clare, Sinn Fein)
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306. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government if his Department has considered transient sites and service areas for Travellers that would be a co-ordinated approach between local authorities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [61623/21]

Peter Burke (Longford-Westmeath, Fine Gael)
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The Housing (Traveller Accommodation) Act 1998 provides that 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. This assessment is across a range of accommodation options including standard social housing and Traveller specific accommodation such as group housing schemes and permanent and transient halting sites.

The Traveller Accommodation Expert Group report includes a recommendation presented in the context of the provision of transient sites which the Programme Board established by my Department will consider in due course.

My Department’s role is to ensure that there are adequate structures and supports in place to assist the authorities in providing for the accommodation needs of Travellers, including a national framework of policy, legislation and funding.