Written answers
Tuesday, 22 October 2024
Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government
Traveller Accommodation
Eoin Ó Broin (Dublin Mid West, Sinn Fein)
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60. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government to provide an update on the implementation of the recommendations of the expert group on Traveller accommodation, and on how many new units of Traveller-specific accommodation have been delivered in each year since the report was published in 2019. [42861/24]
Alan Dillon (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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The Traveller Accommodation 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 four categories which are aimed at:
- Addressing research deficiencies;
- Removing any potential delays and obstacles in the planning system;
- Increasing resources and delivery capacity; and
- Strengthening governance arrangements.
Since the Expert Group Review was published in 2019, full drawdown by local authorities has seen a total of €81 million in Capital funding spent on Traveller-specific accommodation in the four years from 2020 to 2023. A further €21 million was allocated in the 2024 Budget..
This funding has delivered 634 wide ranging outputs from 2020 to 2023 reflecting the range of accommodation options open to Travellers, as well as essential works on sites. This includes the delivery of:
- 101 group housing units including 55 of which are new,
- 74 halting site bays 14 of which are new,
- 121 caravans have been provided through the Caravan Loan Scheme,
- 60 mobiles through emergency replacement, and
- 93 homes have been acquired specifically for Traveller families.
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