CIH Northern Ireland response to draft Irish Traveller Accommodation Strategy 2026–2031

Do you agree with objective one?

Yes.

The Chartered Institute of Housing (CIH) Northern Ireland agrees with objective one. Implementing an enhanced, evidence-based and IT-enabled accommodation needs assessment is fundamental to establishing an accurate projection of Irish Traveller accommodation requirements across Northern Ireland.

A robust methodology – developed in line with UK and Irish good practice – is essential for capturing nuanced cultural, lifestyle and spatial preferences. In progressing this objective, it is important to examine the factors driving the shift towards bricks and mortar social housing noted in section 7.7 of the draft strategy. Research must determine whether this trend reflects a genuine preference or a 'constrained choice' resulting from the historical undersupply, poor condition or lack of facilities on serviced sites. Culturally appropriate site and grouped housing options must remain available so that families are not forced into bricks and mortar housing due to a lack of viable site alternatives.

The new IT system should connect directly with mainstream housing allocation and homelessness databases so staff have a complete view of needs and can make timely decisions.

Do you agree with objective two?

Yes.

CIH Northern Ireland agrees with objective two. Improving the standard of existing sites and identifying new sites where need is assessed are critical to fulfilling statutory responsibilities and delivering safe, dignified living conditions.

Strategic alignment with community planning partnerships across all 11 local council areas is a positive step toward embedding traveller accommodation needs into local development plans. However, strategic plans must be backed by active senior leadership and hands-on involvement from across NIHE departments, including place shaping, asset management, housing services and finance, to ensure momentum is maintained.

While we welcome the call for sites issued to councils, there should be transparency regarding the outcomes and land yield from this exercise. Identifying land is notoriously challenging; therefore, senior organisational drive and clear capital commitments are necessary to navigate planning barriers and deliver schemes without undue delay.

Do you agree with objective three?

Yes.

CIH Northern Ireland agrees with objective three. Embedding lived experience, enhancing cultural understanding and supporting good relations are essential for effective service delivery and reducing societal prejudice.

Moving from a single stand-alone forum to a broader, networked engagement model is a pragmatic response to past participation challenges. However, engagement across existing structures must be genuinely two-way, continuous and transparent. NIHE must establish clear feedback loops showing how Traveller input directly influences policy and operational decisions.

We strongly support dedicated cultural competency training for NIHE staff. Front-facing housing and maintenance teams require a clear understanding of Traveller rights and culture to deliver responsive services. CIH’s research on site delivery highlights that well-trained staff who understand Traveller culture build stronger trust with residents and resolve site management issues far more effectively.

Additionally, NIHE should leverage the expertise of community development partners, such as Supporting Communities, which facilitates around 600 community groups. Supporting Communities could play a pivotal role in bridging community relations, supporting tenant participation and building trust across neighbourhoods.  

Do you agree with objective four?

Yes.

CIH Northern Ireland agrees with objective four. Research and cross-sector collaboration are vital for creating evidence-informed housing policy that responds to evolving demographics and mobility patterns.

We welcome the upcoming 2026 Irish Traveller accommodation survey and the proposed research into a tailored rent scheme, affordability and financial inclusion. Ensuring rental models reflect the realities of site living is essential for tenancy sustainment and homelessness prevention.

Cross-border collaboration with the Housing Agency (Ireland) on all-island travel patterns is valuable, given the fluidity of movement and shared family networks across jurisdictions. Furthermore, supporting the Supporting People team to include a dedicated analysis of Traveller housing support needs within the strategic needs assessment (SNA) will ensure floating support services are targeted and funded effectively.

Do you agree or disagree with these actions?

1.1 Develop an enhanced Irish Traveller Accommodation Needs Assessment, to assist in projecting the need for Irish Traveller Serviced Sites in Northern Ireland.

Agree.

1.2 Develop and implement a Serviced Site Management Policy for implementation by Housing Executive staff

Agree.

1.3 Review and develop an existing IT system, that will support the Irish Traveller Accommodation Needs Assessment.

Agree.

1.4 Develop a Serviced Site Management training and communication package for key stakeholders.

Agree.

CIH Northern Ireland agrees with the proposed actions under objective one. Developing an enhanced needs assessment methodology using UK and Irish good practice provides a solid foundation for evidence-based decision-making. The serviced site management policy should balance robust tenancy management with cultural sensitivity and flexibility. Prioritising the training and communication package (action 1.4) will be essential for front-facing staff implementing these policies.

Do you agree or disagree with these actions?

2.1 Develop a Site Identification Process, informed by evidence-based need, for identifying potential sites for Irish Traveller accommodation.

Agree.

2.2 Maintain engagement with Community Planning Partnerships, to ensure Irish Traveller accommodation need is highlighted and reflected in local planning priorities.

Agree.

2.3 Produce a Strategic Development Plan for any newly identified potential Irish Traveller sites, following implementation of the Accommodation Needs Assessment.

Agree.

2.4 Progress identified redevelopment and improvement works on existing Housing Executive Irish Traveller sites (subject to budget availability).

Agree.

CIH Northern Ireland agrees with the actions under objective two. Establishing a structured site identification process and producing strategic development plans will help translate assessed need into tangible developments. We would welcome publication of the outcomes of the call for sites exercise to provide clarity on site availability across council areas.

Do you agree or disagree with these actions?

3.1 Embed lived experience and the Irish Traveller voice in the delivery, monitoring and governance of the Strategy.

Agree.

3.2 Develop and launch training to further equip Housing Executive staff with the knowledge and understanding of Irish Traveller rights and culture.

Agree.

3.3 Continue to support Irish Traveller Good Relations projects, which promote integration and celebrate diversity, and increase our use of communication channels to raise awareness and understanding of Irish Traveller culture.

Agree.

CIH Northern Ireland agrees with the actions under objective three. Involving Travellers directly through flexible, everyday community networks, rather than relying on a single formal committee, could be a good way to ensure genuine participation. Staff training on Traveller rights and culture should be rolled out across all customer-facing and housing management roles. Partnering with organisations like Supporting Communities could significantly strengthen good relations initiatives and foster community cohesion.

Do you agree or disagree with these actions?

4.1 Review Irish Traveller Accommodation Survey findings, to inform future planning for Irish Traveller accommodation and services.

Agree.

4.2 Initiate research on a tailored rent scheme, affordability and financial inclusion for Housing Executive owned Irish Traveller sites (subject to budget availability).

Agree.

4.3 Support the research being undertaken by the Housing Agency (Ireland), to provide an evidence base on the nature and extent of travel by Irish Travellers on an all-island basis.

Agree.

4.4 Assist Supporting People (SP) to include a separate analysis of current and future housing support need for Irish Travellers in their new Strategic Needs Assessment (SNA).

Agree.

CIH Northern Ireland agrees with the actions under objective four. Turning the 2026 survey results into clear, practical actions will ensure future policy is based on solid evidence. Research into a tailored rent scheme (action 4.2) is important for financial inclusion and should be safeguarded against budget constraints. All-island mobility research with the Housing Agency and dedicated Supporting People SNA analysis will ensure support services match actual demand.

Yes.

CIH Northern Ireland agrees with the draft action plan for year one (December 2026 – December 2027). The plan sets necessary foundational milestones, including establishing working groups, seeking internal approvals for the needs assessment methodology, scoping IT system requirements and progressing existing site redevelopments.

It is important that initial groundwork in year one leads directly to practical, measurable achievements on the ground as the strategy develops. Capital allocations and senior management oversight should be secured early to prevent delays in moving from policy development to site delivery.

In future annual action plans, CIH Northern Ireland would like to see data indicating progress and outcomes of the work:

• Data on site acquisition, planning submissions, scheme completions etc. following the completion of the accommodation needs assessment and strategic development plan
• Data for staff training on cultural competency, serviced site management etc.
• Examples/metrics showing how feedback from Traveller engagement has altered site design, management policy or service delivery
• Information on actions delivered in conjunction with partner organisations and local councils to build community integration and tackle prejudice.

We encourage NIHE to draw on CIH’s published research report, “Managing and delivering Gypsy and Traveller sites: negotiating conflict”. While developed across UK contexts, its practical guidance on site design, utility cost management, staff training and collaborative site management provides valuable operational tools for NIHE teams as they implement this strategy.

If you'd like to know more about our response, please contact Justin Cartwright CIHCM, National Director of Northern Ireland on justin.cartwright@cih.org.