Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 19 March 2026
337. 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. [21145/26]
Amharc ar fhreagra341. 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. [21149/26]
Amharc ar fhreagra342. 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. [21150/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 337, 341 and 342 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.
Traveller Accommodation Programmes (TAPs) 2025-2029 adopted by each local authority, incorporating targets for delivering on Traveller accommodation, are published on their respective websites. The TAPs are focused on the delivery of a range of accommodation needs for Travellers including halting site bays, group housing schemes, acquisition of homes, HAP and RAS. Travellers have the right to choose any form of accommodation, including standard social housing, and the TAPs are designed to meet the identified accommodation need, including, where appropriate, the provision of more permanent accommodation on existing sites.
Local authorities have overall responsibility for the management and upkeep of Traveller specific accommodation, including halting sites. This responsibility encompasses the maintenance of communal facilities, services and individual bays. Funding supports are available from the Department to assist local authorities in meeting these obligations. In addition, the refurbishment of existing halting sites is a significant part of the programme and my Department continues to support these essential works to ensure good standards of accommodation.
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.
As a result, capital funding has been fully drawn-down by local authorities over the past 6 years (2020 - 2025) amounting to €14.5 million in 2020, €15.5 million in 2021, €21.1m in 2022, €29.7 million in 2023, €21 million in 2024 and €23 million in 2025.
In addition to this capital spend, €37 million was spent through current expenditure from 2020 - 2025 (€5.3 million in 2020; €5.8 million in 2021, €6.3 million in 2022, €6.3 million in 2023, €7 million in 2024 and €6.7m in 2025). Local authorities may recoup routine maintenance costs from the Department under this funding stream, for halting sites. The level of recoupment is set at 50% of the actual expenditure on routine repair and maintenance costs (labour and materials) less rent and service charges received, subject to a maximum eligible expenditure of €950 per bay per annum.
My Department remains committed to supporting the provision of appropriate, high quality accommodation for Travellers and will continue to work with local authorities to achieve this.
