COMHAIRLE CONTAE ÁTHA CLIATH THEAS
SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL

MEETING OF HOUSING SPC

Thursday, September 14, 2023

HEADED ITEM NO. 6 (v)

HEADED ITEM: H. Administration

(v) Caravan Loans  

Continuation of the Nationwide Pilot Caravan Loan Scheme

In July, the Department of Housing Local Government and Heritage notified that the Nationwide Pilot Caravan Loan Scheme has been extended until the end of March 2024.  This scheme is to support the provision of Traveller-specific accommodation through the local authorities by providing preferential loans to Travellers to purchase their own caravan/mobile home on halting sites for use as their primary residence. 

The national scheme provides for 80 caravans or €3.2 million, whichever is the lessor, and the Department has provided each local authority with an allocation. The Council has an allocation of six caravan loans. A further allocation has been sought from the Department should additional funding become available. 

This scheme allows for a maximum loan of €40,000 inclusive of VAT with a minimum repayment of €20 per week fixed for the period of the loan.

The Council advertised this scheme in August 2023. The closing date for return of application forms to the Traveller Accommodation Unit is 15th of September 2023.  Guidance on the Scheme was circulated to all halting site bays, advertised on www.sdcc.ie and issued to local Traveller Development groups for further circulation. 

There has been much interest in the scheme and 22 application forms have been received to date.