The nomadic way of life for Irish Travellers in Northern Ireland is under threat, a community support group has said, as the number of dedicated halting sites has fallen sharply over the past two decades and conditions on remaining sites are condemned as inadequate. The Northern Ireland Housing Executive, which oversees Traveller accommodation, has published a draft five-year strategy and insists it is committed to preserving Traveller culture. However, the Craigavon Travellers Support Committee has accused Deputy First Minister Emma Little-Pengelly of calling the police on roadside families during the summer rather than finding them suitable accommodation.
The Craigavon Travellers Support Committee said the number of sites and pitches had “reduced drastically” in the past 20 years, with existing provision “well below par”. One Traveller, who wished to remain anonymous, told the BBC that “no one cares” and that they felt pressured to move into standard housing. “That would be horrific for mental health,” they said. Lisa Hogg of the support committee said provisions had led to families becoming homeless or displaced, adding that nomadic traveller families were having their ability to maintain that lifestyle “slowly eradicated”. “The right to travel is a protected characteristic of Irish Travellers, but there are no provisions in the north to allow that to happen,” she said.
The Housing Executive currently provides a range of sites, but three sites have closed in the last decade in Londonderry, Strabane and Belfast. The NIHE said the closures were due to specific circumstances in those locations, including health and safety concerns, site viability issues and the proposed acquisition of land for major infrastructure projects. In a statement, the NIHE said: “We recognise that every site matters. When a site is lost, it can reduce accommodation choice for Irish Traveller families and communities.” It added: “The Housing Executive remains committed to exploring opportunities to maintain and increase accommodation choice for Irish Travellers where feasible and where needs are identified.” Its draft Irish Traveller Accommodation Strategy 2026–2031 is currently the subject of public consultation.
The Equality Commission, responding to the consultation, called for "stronger commitments" around Irish Traveller accommodation with "clear targets, timescales and resource commitments". It noted that only four Housing Executive sites were operational compared to seven in 2018 and 16 in 2009.
The committee also criticised Deputy First Minister Emma Little-Pengelly for contacting the police over Travellers parked at the Sprucefield Centre in August, saying she should instead have contacted the statutory authority to highlight that the Travellers had nowhere to go. Little-Pengelly said in a video that it was “not legal to camp here overnight” and that she had raised concerns with the PSNI and Translink.
Professor Michelle Norris of University College Dublin, who served on an expert panel on Traveller accommodation in the Republic of Ireland, said that while appropriate accommodation is central to Traveller identity, demand for Traveller-specific accommodation, halting sites and group housing schemes is falling. According to the 2025 national assessment, about 95% of Travellers in the Republic wanted standard housing. She said that Travellers who want Traveller-specific accommodation should still be facilitated.
Analysis
Why This Matters
- The decline in Traveller-specific accommodation threatens the ethnic group's nomadic tradition, a protected characteristic.
- Poor conditions on remaining sites cause health and mental health impacts, leading to displacement.
- The public consultation on the NIHE's draft strategy will shape future provision for the community.
Background
Irish Travellers are an ethnic minority in Ireland and the UK with a nomadic tradition. The Northern Ireland Housing Executive is responsible for providing accommodation, including halting sites. The number of sites has fallen from 16 in 2009 to four operational sites in 2026, according to the Equality Commission. The draft Irish Traveller Accommodation Strategy 2026–2031 aims to address provision.
Key Perspectives
Craigavon Travellers Support Committee: Says nomadic life is at risk, provision has reduced drastically, and remaining sites are below par. Criticised Deputy First Minister for contacting police instead of finding accommodation.
Northern Ireland Housing Executive: Says it is investing in and future-proofing Travellers' way of life, committed to exploring opportunities for more sites, and its draft strategy aims to support Traveller culture.
Equality Commission: Called for stronger commitments with clear targets and timescales, noting the significant reduction in sites.
Prof Michelle Norris: Research in the Republic suggests a majority of Travellers now prefer standard housing, but those who want specific accommodation must still be facilitated.
What to Watch
- The outcome of the consultation on the draft Irish Traveller Accommodation Strategy 2026–2031.
- Any response from Deputy First Minister Emma Little-Pengelly to the criticism.
- Further potential site closures or new openings.
Checked
9 claims in this story checked against 1 source: 6 supported.
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- SupportedThe Craigavon Travellers Support Committee said Irish Travellers’ nomadic way of life in Northern Ireland is at risk.BBC Northern Ireland: “The nomadic life of Irish Travellers is "at risk" in Northern Ireland with members of the community feeling pressured to move into "bricks and mortar" housing, a support group has said.”
- Partly supportedThe number of dedicated halting sites has fallen sharply over the past two decades.BBC Northern Ireland: “The number of sites and pitches in Northern Ireland has "reduced drastically" in the past 20 years, according to the Craigavon Travellers Support Committee.”
- SupportedThe support committee said provision on remaining sites was inadequate.BBC Northern Ireland: “It added that the issue was "compounded" by "well below par" provisions on remaining sites.”
- Partly supportedThe committee accused Deputy First Minister Emma Little-Pengelly of contacting police instead of finding roadside Travellers suitable accommodation.BBC Northern Ireland: “it is not known whether she also took steps to find alternative accommodation for the travellers. Speaking to BBC News NI, Kelly Laverty from Craigavon Travellers Support Committee was critical of this, and said "she should have contacted the statutory authority to highlight these people have nowhere to go".”
- SupportedThe Northern Ireland Housing Executive is consulting on a draft five-year Traveller accommodation strategy.BBC Northern Ireland: “It is currently consulting the public on a draft strategy for the next five years, external on traveller accommodation.”
- SupportedAn anonymous Traveller told the BBC that “no one cares” and “That would be horrific for mental health.”BBC Northern Ireland: “One traveller at a site in Craigavon, who wanted to remain anonymous, told BBC News NI that "no one cares" about them. They added: "It's got to the point where we just put up with it. "We feel pressured to move into a house but that isn't our way of life. That would be horrific for mental health."”
- SupportedThree sites in Londonderry, Strabane and Belfast closed in the last decade.BBC Northern Ireland: “Three sites - based in Londonderry, Strabane and Belfast - have closed in the last decade.”
- SupportedThe Equality Commission said four Housing Executive sites were operational, compared with seven in 2018 and 16 in 2009.BBC Northern Ireland: “It said that at the time of writing only four Housing Executive sites were operational compared to seven in 2018 and 16 in 2009.”
- Partly supportedAbout 95% of Travellers in the Republic wanted standard housing.BBC Northern Ireland: “"We found in the latest figures from 2025 that around 95% of travellers actually want standard housing in a housing estate," Norris said.”