merrion street

As committed to in the Programme for Partnership Government and re-affirmed in Rebuilding Ireland: Action Plan for Housing and Homelessness, an independent review of current and capital funding for Traveller-specific accommodation since 2000 in the context of delivery under local authorities’ Traveller Accommodation Programmes has been commissioned by the Housing Agency and is nearing finalisation. The National Traveller Accommodation Committee (NTACC), which comprises all relevant stakeholders, has agreed a sub-group which will analyse the factual information provided by the review and, within its statutory remit under the Housing (Traveller Accommodation) Act 1998, will advise the Minister in relation to its analysis and conclusions.

As the 1998 Act will be 20 years operational next year, a review of the legislation would be timely. At its meeting of 24 May 2017, the NTACC recommended that a review of the Act should be undertaken. Minister of State for Housing and Urban Renewal, Damien English, T.D., welcomes and supports such a review, and would welcome the proposal to form part of any overall submission to him from the NTACC following its analysis of the independent review commissioned by the Housing Agency.

Minister English said: “I respect and value the expertise of the NTACC, given that it represents the major stakeholders in this area. Their collective view that a review of the Act would be timely is welcome and is a view that I very much support. I look forward to receiving the NTACC’s specific conclusions from the independent review, which should include any formal proposal in relation to the review of the 1998 Act.” The Minister further said: “We must ensure that there is an appropriate supply of accommodation which is specific to the needs of the Travelling community and I am very much open to recommendations from the NTACC which ensure that we have the structures, processes and resources in place to achieve this.”

The Minister will await the NTACC’s analysis of the conclusions of the independent review commissioned by the Housing Agency, which will then inform the scope and format of the review of the 1998 Act.

Ends

Notes for Editors
What is the NTACC?
The National Traveller Accommodation Consultative Committee was established on a statutory basis under the Housing (Traveller Accommodation) Act 1998. Section 20 of the Act provides that the Minister appoints the Chairperson and members, subject to a maximum of 12 members (including the Chairperson) and also sets out the bodies with nominating rights to the committee. The purpose of the committee is to advise the Minister in relation to general matters concerning Traveller accommodation. The NTACC generally holds 4/5 meetings a year, including one site visit.
The committee is appointed for a three-year period, under section 19 of the Housing (Traveller Accommodation) Act 1998. Its terms of reference are to advise the Minister in relation to:
Ø any general matter concerning accommodation for Travellers;
Ø any matter referred to it by the Minister;
Ø the most appropriate measures for improving, at local level, consultation with, and participation of, Travellers in the provision and management of accommodation; and
Ø general matters concerning the preparation, adequacy, implementation and co-ordination of Traveller accommodation programmes.

Who is on the NTACC?
The Committee is made up of 12 members. The Minister appoints an independent Chair to head the Committee. Other members are selected as follows:
Ø 1 person who has been nominated to the Minister by the Minister for Justice & Equality;
Ø 1 person who has been nominated to the Minister by the General Council of County Councils;
Ø 1 person who has been nominated to the Minister by the Association of Municipal Authorities of Ireland;
Ø 2 persons who have been nominated to the Minister by the County and City Managers' Association;
Ø 3 persons who have been nominated to the Minister by bodies representing Travellers and are concerned with the accommodation for Travellers;
Ø 1 person from among the officers of the Minister; and
Ø 2 persons who, in the opinion of the Minister, have experience in relation to accommodation for travellers or are concerned with the general welfare of travellers.

Traveller Accommodation Act, 1998