COMHAIRLE CONTAE ÁTHA CLIATH THEAS
SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL
MEETING OF HOUSING SPC
Wednesday, February 10, 2016
HEADED ITEM NO.
HEADED ITEM: M. Donovan
Caravan Loan Scheme
REPLY:
South Dublin County Council previously operated a Caravan Loan Scheme to assist Travellers to purchase Caravans suitable for their needs. This scheme was discontinued due to the non–repayment of approximately 70% of the loans
- A Total amount of €794,735 in loans were allocated to the scheme.
- There is a total outstanding figure of €551,000 (70%), with €243,735 recouped to date. (30%).
It has being increasingly raised by Travellers themselves and advocacy groups on their behalf that there was a need for a loan scheme to be re-introduced due to family creation and lack of living accommodation as well as dereliction of existing accommodation in some cases
Accordingly a sum of €100, 000 was provided for in the 2016 estimates for the provision of Caravan Loans.
Following discussions with National Traveller Money Advice & Budgeting Service, it is proposed to make loans available up to a maximum of €10,000 repayable over a maximum period of 5 years.
It will be a condition of any Loan that the borrowers sign up directly for the Household Budget Scheme and the repayments will be taken at source from this. If they are in arrears for a previous loan they will have to enter into an arrangement for repayment of same at the same time as repayments on the new loan. The Household Budget Scheme deduction cannot be cancelled without the agreement of the Council.
It is proposed to discuss this Caravan Loan Scheme with both Clondalkin and Tallaght Traveller Development Groups in the coming weeks and then submit it to the next meeting of the Local Traveller Accommodation Consultative Committee for information. (Apparently the 4 national traveller groups have agreed to work with LA’s again in the LTACC