6.—F4[(1) A F5[housing authority] shall, for the purposes of preparing a programme under section 7, and at such other times as the Minister may by direction specify, in respect of the functional area concerned, make an assessment of the accommodation needs of travellers who are assessed under section 20 of the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2009 as being qualified for social housing support (within the meaning of that Act), including the need for sites. ]

(2) F6[…]

F7[ (3) Before making an assessment under this section, a F8[housing authority] shall give one month’s notice of their intention to do so to—

(a) every local authority whose administrative area adjoins, or is contained in, the functional area of the authority preparing a programme under section 7,

(b) the Health Service Executive,

(c) approved bodies engaged in the provision of accommodation or shelter in the functional area concerned,

(d) any local consultative committee in the functional area concerned, and

(e) such local community bodies in the functional area concerned and any other person, as the housing authority considers appropriate.]

(4) Without prejudice to the generality of subsection (1), a F9[housing authority], in making an assessment shall have regard to—

(a) the estimate of travellers referred to in subsection (5),

F10[(aa) any summary of social housing assessments prepared under section 21(c) of the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2009,]

(b) the need for sites with limited facilities referred to in section 13 of the Act of 1988 (as amended by this Act) in relation to the annual patterns of movement of travellers, otherwise than as their normal place of residence, and

(c) the views, if any, of the local consultative committee concerned.

(5) A F9[housing authority] shall make an estimate of the number of traveller families and households for whom accommodation will be required within the functional area for a period which the Minister may by direction specify.

(6) F11[…]

(7) F12[…]