Pádraig Rice (Cork South-Central, Social Democrats)
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867. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government if his Department is aware of the ongoing issues relating to the provision of emergency replacement mobiles or caravans to Traveller families affected by storm Éowyn in Cork (details supplied); if his Department has engaged with the local authority with regard to this case; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30668/25]

James Browne (Wexford, Fianna Fail)
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The Housing (Traveller Accommodation) Act 1998 provides that the role of my Department is to ensure that there are adequate structures and supports in place to assist housing authorities in providing accommodation for Travellers, including a national framework of policy, legislation and funding.

The Act 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, cognisant of emergencies which arise from time to time which by their nature cannot be planned for or anticipated, has a well established scheme in place to provide funding to local authorities of up to 50% to assist with the cost of purchase of emergency replacement mobiles and caravans for Travellers. It is open to local authorities to submit an application for funding for an emergency replacement mobile at any time on foot of an unanticipated emergency, e.g. such as flood/storm/fire damage, that would render a caravan uninhabitable or dangerous to live in, including in the case of storm Éowyn. Applications must be on the basis of a particular emergency explaining the circumstances involved. Applications are assessed and dealt with in a timely manner, recognising the emergency nature of the scheme.

My Department engages with the local authorities, including Cork City Council, where applications are made for emergency replacement mobiles. Details on any planned applications by local authorities for Emergency Replacement Mobiles may be available directly from the local authorities.