Irish Traveller Strategy

We are responsible for the provision and management of accommodation for the Irish Traveller Community. To successfully fulfil these responsibilities, we also undertake research to establish the accommodation needs of the Irish Traveller Community across Northern Ireland.

Irish Traveller Accommodation Needs Assessments

• To establish the accommodation needs (for social housing, Traveller specific Group Housing, serviced sites and transit sites) of the Irish Traveller Community across Northern Ireland, the Housing Executive commissioned and published Comprehensive Traveller Accommodation Needs Assessments in 2002, 2008 and 2015.
• In 2019 we will be carrying out new research aimed at providing the necessary information to enable a new accommodation strategy to be developed for the period 2020/2025.

Irish Traveller Accommodation Programme

• The needs assessment informs the development of the Traveller Accommodation Programme.  
• Currently the accommodation programme is reviewed on a yearly basis in conjunction with all interested stakeholders, to reflect the changing needs and aspirations of the Traveller Community. 

Land identification process 

• In terms of future accommodation provision, we will complete a comprehensive review of all Housing Executive land and non-Housing Executive land in areas of identified accommodation need following the forthcoming needs assessment. 

• This may include advertising in the local press in all the areas where accommodation need has been identified, for expressions of interest in selling private lands for Traveller accommodation. 

• A key component of the land identification process for temporary accommodation requirements is the number of people applying to our offices for a serviced or a transit site. Based on this information we continue to pursue suitable lands for serviced/transit sites for Traveller families in Belfast, Mid Ulster, Armagh Banbridge & Craigavon, Derry & Strabane, Fermanagh & Omagh and Newry Mourne & Down council areas.