Travellers
Policy Objective
To improve the living conditions for Travellers in Northern Ireland.
Here you will find information on the Department's responsibilities, policies and actions in relation to Travellers in Northern Ireland including:
The Department for Social Development is involved with the Housing Executive (NIHE) and Registered Housing Associations in the provision of accommodation for Travellers.
Following the transfer of responsibility for Traveller specific accommodation from District Councils, NIHE carried out a comprehensive assessment of the accommodation needs of all Travellers in Northern Ireland.
This review indicated that the majority of Travellers wish to live in ‘settled’ accommodation either in existing social housing estates or specific ‘group housing’ schemes which cater for Travellers’ desire to reside in extended family groupings.
As a result NIHE has drawn up and submitted to the Department, a programme of Traveller specific schemes to cater for this need. These schemes will be delivered by housing associations. Group housing is a relatively recent and it was decided to progress on the basis of four pilot housing schemes:
- Tattykeel - Omagh (complete)
- Hillhead Road – Castledawson (complete)
- Glen Road – West Belfast
- Monagh Road – West Belfast
A number of Travellers also indicated a desire to live on serviced sites, which provide facilities for Travellers residing in static ‘mobile home’ type accommodation. There are currently 5 occupied serviced sites in Northern Ireland and the NIHE is in the process of upgrading these. Some Travellers wish to remain nomadic and their needs will be provided through ‘transit sites’.
There are currently no transit sites in Northern Ireland and the NIHE is currently working in conjunction with District Councils, Traveller representative groups and Travellers to determine the specific need for such sites and where these should be located.
Under the Targeting Social Need Initiative, the Department set up a Working Group on Promoting Social Inclusion (PSI) to consider factors that could put Travellers at risk of exclusion.
The aim of the Group was to recommend an integrated policy strategy and an Action Plan.
The final report, which made thirty three detailed recommendations to Government aimed at improving the lives of Travellers in areas such as health, education and accommodation, was presented to Government Ministers.
On 25 February 2003 the Office of the First Minister/Deputy First Minister published A Response to the PSI Working Group Report on Travellers.
All of the recommendations relating to DSD and NIHE have been progressed.
It is important to stress that the policy that allows Travellers to camp on a temporary basis is not a substitute for permanent or transit site provision.
The policy is still seen, therefore, as a humane requirement and necessary addition to adequate permanent provision.
Once the policy is in place Travellers should be allowed to remain on the land subject to the following conditions:
- Occupation does not constitute a measurable public health hazard or cause pollution to water supplies. District Councils should liaise with the landowner, support groups and Traveller families to ensure services (eg, refuse collection) are in place to eliminate any public health hazard
- Occupation does not create a traffic hazard.
- Occupation does not create a right to long-term use of the site. The situation should be reviewed at regular intervals not exceeding 3 months.
- There is no current or immediate use for the land.
- The Travellers behave in a reasonable and orderly manner.
It is recognised that in exceptional cases there could be circumstances attached to a particular occupancy, which would require a different approach.
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