For discrimination, the Equality Commission for Northern Ireland gives free advice.
Quick facts
- Legal status
- Recognised ethnic group
- Accommodation
- Housing Executive assesses needs and provides sites
- Schools
- Extra funding for Traveller children
- Education support
- Intercultural Education Service
Your rights
Irish Travellers are a long established indigenous ethnic minority group in Northern Ireland. Travellers are legally recognised as an ethnic group under Race Relations laws, which means it is against the law to discriminate against you because you are a Traveller.
Accommodation
The Housing Executive has a responsibility to assess the accommodation needs of Irish Travellers. It is also responsible for providing and managing or leasing caravan sites for Irish Travellers.
Education
If you identify your child as a Traveller when they enrol, the Department of Education allocates extra money to the school, and each school decides how best to use it for the Traveller children in its care. The Intercultural Education Service works directly with schools, Traveller children and families.
Common questions
Are Irish Travellers a recognised ethnic group in Northern Ireland?
Yes, under race relations law, so discrimination against Travellers is unlawful.