Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 19 March 2026
333. Deputy George Lawlor asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage for an update on the position regarding a recommendation made by the Joint Oireachtas Committee on issues affecting the Travelling community (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21141/26]
Amharc ar fhreagra334. Deputy George Lawlor asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage for an update on the position regarding a recommendation made by the Joint Oireachtas Committee on issues affecting the Travelling community (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21142/26]
Amharc ar fhreagra335. Deputy George Lawlor asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage for an update on the position regarding a recommendation made by the Joint Oireachtas Committee on issues affecting the Travelling community (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21143/26]
Amharc ar fhreagra343. Deputy George Lawlor asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage for an update regarding a recommendation made by the Joint Oireachtas Committee on issues affecting the Travelling community (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21151/26]
Amharc ar fhreagra344. Deputy George Lawlor asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage for an update on the position regarding a recommendation made by the Joint Oireachtas Committee on issues affecting the Travelling community (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21152/26]
Amharc ar fhreagra345. Deputy George Lawlor asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage for an update regarding a recommendation made by the Joint Oireachtas Committee on issues affecting the Travelling community (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21153/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 333, 334, 335, 343, 344 and 345 together.
The Housing (Traveller Accommodation) Act, 1998 provides that local 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 in order to meet the identified accommodation need.
The role of my Department is to ensure that there are adequate structures and supports in place to assist the authorities in providing such accommodation, including a national framework of policy, legislation and funding.
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 4 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.
The Programme Board, established on foot of the Traveller Accommodation Expert Review report, continues to make progress in delivering on implementation of the recommendations in the report. To date 14 of the recommendations have been completed.
The most recent progress report dated November 2025, which provides an update on the work of the Programme Board, is available at the following link:
www.gov.ie/en/publication/37910-traveller-accommodation-expert-review-programme-board-update/
My Department continues to work within the framework of the Programme Board in delivering the recommendations of Traveller Accommodation Expert Review report including taking account of the relevant recommendations of the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Key Issues affecting the Traveller Community which fall within the remit of my Department.
The table below provides an update on the relevant recommendations from the Final Report of the Joint Committee on Key Issues affecting the Traveller Community by cross-referencing the position on the relevant recommendations from the Programme Board as set out in the November 2025 progress update.
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The Final Report of the Joint Committee on Key Issues affecting the Traveller Community Recommendation
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Programme Board Recommendation number and status |
Position as per the latest progress update (November 2025) |
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Cena should be funded to advise social housing landlords on the design, location and management of Traveller-specific accommodation projects. |
C.7 Completed |
The DHLGH has now agreed a temporary support arrangement to build Cena’s (a Traveller AHB) capacity to support the delivery Traveller-specific accommodation. |
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‘Trespass legislation, in particular where it relates to publicly owned land, should be repealed until the network of transient sites is in place’ |
D.4 Ongoing work programme |
The Department of Justice and Equality, in consultation with An Garda Síochána, outlined that the Department of Justice and Equality and An Garda Síochána do not advocate the removal of the provision from legislation. Further engagement with the Department of Justice has been initiated in this regard.
The Housing Agency are preparing a research paper to explore the feasibility of an all-Ireland approach to the provision of a network of transient sites on behalf of DHLGH and the Northern Ireland Housing Executive (NIHE).
Terms of reference are agreed and action is underway to progress this research. |
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The issue of the failure of many local authorities to get approval for Part 8 planning proposals must be addressed by the transfer of the decision making directly to An Bord Pleanála where local authorities are failing to implement their TAP due to refusal to pass Part 8 planning proposals or due to possible refusal having a chilling effect of the development of plans to provide adequate housing for the Travellers. |
B.2 Ongoing work programme |
A temporary exemption was in place for local authorities from the ‘Part 8’ approval process to construct housing developments on local authority and designated State owned lands zoned to include residential use, and subject to compliance with the requirements of the recently inserted section 179A of the Planning and Development Act 2000. This exemption came into force in March 2023, and is now expired for new projects, however, developments commenced before 31 December 2024 under Section 179A can be completed under its provisions. |
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‘A National Traveller Accommodation Authority should be established to oversee the development and implementation of Traveller accommodation policy and to have an input into the TAP developed by each local authority. Where a local authority is failing in its duty to provide good accommodation for Travellers the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage should have power to transfer responsibility for Traveller Specific Accommodation to the Traveller Accommodation Authority’ |
D.1 Ongoing work programme |
A research paper is underway by the Housing Agency to consider the role of the NTACC including wider practical options for governance arrangements. The Housing Agency is actively undertaking this research and a first draft of their research paper is expected shortly for consideration by the programme board. |
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‘The inclusion of a Traveller Identifier on social housing application forms should be implemented as expeditiously as possible and without delay’ |
A.1 (b) Completed |
Regulation S.I. 73 of 2022, allowing for the inclusion of a Traveller identifier on the statutory Social Housing Support application form came into operation on 14 March 2022 |
