Eoin Ó Broin (Dublin Mid West, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

238. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government the funding applications that are currently being considered by his Department for the Traveller AHB Cena; the funding that has been provided by Cena in 2022; the funding that will be provided in 2023; and if his Department is encouraging local authorities and approved housing bodies to engage with and enter service level agreements with Cena to assist in the development of much needed Traveller specific accommodation. [6862/23]

Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

My Department is engaging with the Approved Housing Body (AHB) sector, including Cena, on its capacity to deliver Traveller-specific accommodation as part of the ongoing work of the Programme Board, established to oversee the implementation of the recommendations contained in the Expert Group Review report.

My Department supported Cena in 2022 in relation to the following:

- funding for a service level agreement with Cena to employ a part-time Tenant Liaison Officer to guide and assist Traveller families in Carlow in taking up new tenancies

- funding to Offaly County Council for a service level agreement with Cena for tenancy sustainment

- funding to Clare County Council for a feasibility study concerning a halting site undertaken by Cena

In addition, funding was provided by The Housing Agency for over 3 years to support the work of Cena to build its capacity as a self-sustaining standalone AHB.

The AHB Cena has an active funding application under the Capital Assistance Scheme (CAS) which is being considered by my Department.

My Department continues its collaborative work with local authorities and AHBs to support the consistent delivery of accommodation for Travellers, however it is a matter for each local authority to decide if they wish to engage the services of Cena.

The capacity of AHBs, including Cena, to deliver Traveller-specific accommodation remains part of the ongoing work of the Programme Board and is under ongoing consideration.