Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 14 July 2026
407. Deputy Naoise Ó Muirí asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if his Department is in contact with local authorities in relation to the implementation of the national Guide to Fire Safety in Existing Traveller Accommodation (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53269/26]
View answerThe Guide to Fire Safety in Existing Traveller Accommodation was published by the National Directorate for Fire and Emergency Management (NDFEM) in my Department in 2019. This document contains fire safety information and advice, and information in respect of fire safety standards applicable to existing Traveller accommodation, and is a single reference document that can be referred to by local authorities for guidance (as opposed to for implementation) on these matters.
As set out in section 1.2 of the Guide, the responsibility for fire safety in each dwelling occupied as a single dwelling rests with those living in that dwelling. That section further sets out that a duty of care may exist in relation to aspects of accommodation provision where a local authority provides the accommodation, which in the case of Traveller-specific accommodation would be in reference to group housing schemes and halting sites.
Where the local authorities identify fire safety measures for action, it is open to the local authorities to submit proposals to my Department for funding for these measures on Traveller-specific accommodation sites such as the installation of fire walls between caravans/trailers on halting sites, in line with existing policies. Any proposals submitted are reviewed and approved as appropriate, and supported via the Traveller-specific funding stream.
In line with the recommendation from the earlier report entitled Report on Programme to Review and Enhance Fire Safety in Local Authority Provided Traveller Accommodation, published by NDFEM in 2016, at the request of the National Traveller Accommodation Consultative Committee, the Local Traveller Accommodation Consultative Committees (LTACC) are requested to retain the topic of fire safety in Traveller accommodation as a standing agenda item for discussion at LTACC meetings, and are further requested to ensure that any fire safety issues identified by the local authority, are addressed at the local level.
