Background to the Research

• The WBEF undertook this primary research to look at the economic situation and prospects of Travellers in Belfast. The Belfast Traveller population is the largest in the north and nearly all the Travellers in Belfast live in West Belfast, wherein all legal and serviced sites for Travellers in Belfast are also situated.
  

Main Findings

• There has been almost no investment in the Traveller economy in the north of Ireland. What investment there is in the wider Traveller community is inappropriate in terms of economic development and often bound by restrictions preventing economic activity.
• A handful of Travellers in Belfast are currently self-employed and working in the Traveller economy. One other Traveller is working full-time in the community sector. A small number of other Travellers are employed on short-term, temporary and part-time posts in the community sector. Other than this, Traveller income is dependent on welfare benefits. Levels of unemployment are higher than among Travellers than any other social group.
• There is some potential in developing the Traveller economy. For example, with the growth in public consciousness about the environment, recycling work is becoming increasingly important and celebrated. If recycling work were properly supported by government economic policy then Travellers could use existing skills in this area to rejuvenate a traditional area of the Traveller economy as well as exploring new opportunities for recycling other materials.
• Any economic development model for Travellers in the north of Ireland may however require a wider focus than the traditional Traveller economy and needs to consider ways of 'mainstreaming' Traveller employment.
• The report identifies specific potential for economic development in three key areas: Traveller economy, Traveller Service Sector and Traveller Enterprises in the social economy.