COMHAIRLE CONTAE ÁTHA CLIATH THEAS
SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL
MEETING OF SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL
Monday, October 12, 2020
QUESTION NO. 20
QUESTION: Councillor G. O'Connell
To ask the Chief Executive for an update report on the Traveller Accommodation Programme and to include (a) the number of Traveller Families awaiting accommodation by desired type of accommodation on Ist July 2019 and (b)the number of Traveller Families by decided type of accommodation on 1st July 2020, and (c) the number of Traveller Families currently in B&B type of accommodation and please state how long the longest Traveller Family has been in \\b7b type accommodation, and if he would make a statement.
REPLY:
(A)Update on the Traveller Accomodation Programme
The Traveller Accommodation Programme 2019-2024 was adopted by the Elected Members in July 2019. The Council’s approach to the provision of Traveller Accommodation over the lifetime of the programme includes:
- Construction of new sites
- Redevelopment of existing sites
- Filling of casual vacancies
- Refurbishment/Extension of Existing Units
- Standard Social Housing
Despite the significant impact of the Covid-19 restrictions, a considerable amount of progress has been made in relation to the provision of Traveller Accommodation during the year.
Construction/Redevelopment
Three sites were prioritised to be progressed in 2020. These sites were identified for construction/redevelopment works to provide long-term sustainable Traveller Accommodation:
Oldcastle Park - With the agreement of the Local Traveller Accommodation Consultative Committee, the Council has completed a Traveller led consultation process through CENA (Culturally Appropriate Homes Limited), a Traveller-led Voluntary Accommodation Association, to bring forward proposals for the redevelopment of Oldcastle Park. While work on this consultation process was suspended due to COVID-19 restrictions. This process has now been completed and a draft report will be issued shortly.
Fonthill Road – A consultation process with the tenants of this site regarding the proposed re-development of their current site has been ongoing. The Traveller families concerned have requested some amendments to the proposed plans and these are currently under review with a view to finalising plans as soon as possible and progressing development work.
Owendoher Haven – Staff from the Traveller Accommodation Unit and Architectural Services Department have met with all the families from Owendoher Haven to discuss proposals for the re-development of the site. While feedback from these meetings was extremely positive and all families were agreeable in principal to the proposed re-development plans, we are unable at present to reach a consensus on the preliminary designs during this phase of the consultation process. We are currently exploring resolution of this with the engagement of external groups/agencies to progress plans for redevelopment towards a Part 8 Public Consultation process later this year.
Adamstown
In addition, discussions have been ongoing with developers in Adamstown and six units of accommodation have been identified to be delivered in Quarter 4, 2021, subject to planning approval.
Group Housing - Refurbishment
|
No. of Units |
Location |
Type |
Status |
|
1 |
Daletree |
4 bed Unit |
Allocated |
|
3 |
Lynch’s Park |
4 bed Unit |
Allocations pending |
Provision of Medical Chalet
|
No. of Units |
Location |
Type |
Status |
|
1 |
Belgard Park |
Medical Unit |
Allocated |
|
1 |
Old Castle Park |
Medical Unit |
Allocations |
Day Unit and Bay - Refurbishment
|
No. of Units |
Location |
Type |
Status |
|
3 |
Stocking Hill |
Day unit and Bay |
Allocations pending |
|
1 |
Belgard Park |
Day unit and Bay |
Allocations pending |
|
1 |
Cherryfield |
Day unit and Bay |
Allocated |
|
1 |
Kishogue |
Day unit and Bay |
Allocated |
Provision of Mobile Homes /Caravans
|
No. of Units |
Location |
Type |
Status |
|
1 |
Stocking Hill |
Mobile Home |
Allocated |
|
2 |
Belgard Park |
1 Mobile Home and 1 Caravan |
Allocated |
|
3 |
Kishogue |
1 Mobile Home and 2 Caravan |
Allocated |
|
1 |
Old Castle Park |
1 Mobile Home |
Allocated |
Unauthorised Encampment
|
No. of Units |
Location |
Type |
Status |
|
1 |
Roadside |
4 bed Unit-standard social housing |
Allocated |
Temporary Site
|
No. of Units |
Location |
Type |
Status |
|
3 |
Various |
3/4 bed Units standard social housing |
Allocated |
Part 8 Medical Extension
|
No. of Units |
Location |
Type |
Status |
|
1 |
Kishouge |
Medical Extension |
Tendered |
In addition to above, the allocation of standard social housing to Traveller households under the Traveller Accommodation Programme continues on an ongoing basis for those families whose stated preference is for such accommodation.
(B) Breakdown of number of families on the Traveller Specfic Accommodation Waiting List:
| No. of families on the Traveller Accommodation List at 1st July 2019 | 75 |
| No. of families on the Traveller Accommodation List at 1st July 2020 | 80 |
| No. of families with 1st preference for Group Housing Scheme | 37 |
| No. of families with 1st preference for Bay and Day Unit | 39 |
| No. of families with a 1st preference of Standard Social Housing | 1 |
| No. of families with no preference identified | 3 |
(C) Number of Traveller Families in Emergency Accomodation
The PASS system is used by the Dublin Regional Homeless Executive (DRHE) to record those in emergency accommodation. The PASS system, however, cannot give an accurate record of the number of Travellers in emergency accommodation as it not a requirement to record this information on those entering into emergency accommodation.