Holly Cairns (Cork South West, Social Democrats)
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389. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government when he expects the mid-term review for local authority Traveller accommodation programmes to occur in view of the delay announced in December 2021 as well as the impacts of Covid-19 on progressing capital projects; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11788/22]

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.  My 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. Progressing Capital projects is a matter for each local authority. 

My Department circulated a copy of the Office of the Planning Regulator - OPR Case Study Paper CSP03 -Traveller Accommodation and the Local Authority Development Plan to local authorities for their consideration as part of the forthcoming mid-term review of the Traveller Accommodation Programmes 2019-2024. This research forms part of one of the recommendations in the Traveller Accommodation Expert Review report being progressed by the Programme Board.  My Department will be communicating further with local authorities on the mid-term review shortly.