Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 10 December 2025
229. Deputy Jen Cummins asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if all monies for Traveller accommodation has been drawn down by local authorities; the reason the planned work at a allocation (details supplied) has not started; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [70538/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe 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 ceased the practice of allocating specific budgets to individual local authorities following a review of arrangements for the disbursement of funding provision and related supports for Traveller-specific accommodation. Since 2020, it is open to all local authorities to apply for and drawdown funds at any time throughout the year and this is actively encouraged by my Department.
Full spend of the Traveller accommodation capital budget has been achieved for the past 5 years from 2020 to 2024, amounting to €14.6m in 2020, €15.5m in 2021, €21.1m in 2022, €29.8m in 2023 and €21m in 2024. In 2025, the budget allocation for capital funding is €23 million and current funding is €7 million.
My Department is committed to supporting Dublin City Council in the redevelopment of Labre Park. In April 2016, a Stage 1 application for the redevelopment of this site was submitted to my Department, and in September 2016, my Department granted approval for a budget provision of €8.7 million. In July 2019, a Stage 2 application was received by my Department and approval was granted subsequently for funding of €13.2 million.
In December 2022, a revised Stage 2 application was received by my Department. In February 2023, further information requested by my Department was submitted by the local authority and subsequently in July 2023 my Department granted approval for an increased overall budget provision of €16.7m for the redevelopment of Labre Park.
My Department provided this funding approval for the redevelopment of accommodation at Labre Park to support the long-term strategy for this site to provide quality accommodation to the residents which will address the current conditions on the site.
My Department met with Dublin City Council most recently in September 2025 to discuss the planned redesign and regeneration of Labre Park. Subsequently, in November 2025, Dublin City Council submitted a further revised Stage 2 application for funding to my Department and this is currently under consideration.
