254. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the date on which the review of the caravan loan pilot scheme was completed; when a replacement for this scheme with a permanent national scheme will be announced; the progress made to date in relation to same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40091/24]

The Housing (Traveller Accommodation) Act 1998 provides that the role of my Department is to ensure that there are adequate structures and supports in place to assist housing authorities in providing accommodation for Travellers, including a national framework of policy, legislation and funding. The Act provides that housing 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.

My Department completed a comprehensive review of the nationwide pilot Caravan Loan Scheme in 2024. Options for a national scheme are currently under consideration with the intention that a proposal for a further scheme will be brought forward later this year.