Mary Rose Walker, Social Worker, Wicklow County Council, Ireland
For decades, Travellers — Ireland’s indigenous nomadic population — were treated as a problem to be solved, and accommodation policy reflected that. The focus was on assimilation and managing difficulties, rather than listening to Traveller families or recognising their culture. Things began to shift when we started planning from their point of view rather than imposing ours.
Wicklow Co. Council is now working on its sixth Traveller Accommodation Plan, and the changes I’ll be discussing come from years of accumulated learning. Each plan has taught us something new about Traveller preferences, what is deliverable, and how to balance cultural needs with practical constraints. The approach we have today is the product of 25 years of learning.
What the session will cover
In the session, I’ll explore how Wicklow’s approach to Traveller accommodation has evolved, from recognising cultural preferences to adapting policy and plans as needs change. I’ll also share what we learned about ensuring Travellers have a real say in the decisions that affect their accommodation. I’ll also outline what Traveller‑specific accommodation means in practice and how needs and preferences have evolved over time. These lessons may be useful for regions working with nomadic or marginalised communities.
Key takeaway points
From Wicklow’s experience, progress depended on two things:
- working directly with Traveller families
- having accommodation plans backed by real commitment at local and national level
When both were in place, it changed what we were able to deliver.
Why this matters now
Traveller accommodation remains one of the most complex and sensitive areas of social policy in Ireland. Needs and cultural patterns have shifted significantly over the past few decades, and new issues continue to emerge. This creates fresh challenges for both Travellers and local authorities, particularly when expectations, identities, and practical realities are all changing at once.
I’ll be sharing more about this journey at the conference. I look forward to the discussion and to hearing how these issues are being approached in different regions.
Join the discussion in Valletta
I invite you to join our thematic panel, Towards more Stable, Inclusive and Person‑centred Housing Models, taking place on Monday 18 May 2026 in the Mediterranean Conference Centre from 17:00 to 18:00. The session will be moderated by Daniel Bond, and I will be joined by Lotte Henriksen (Aarhus) and Martins Moors (Riga).
Each of us will bring a different perspective on how local authorities are rethinking housing policy and practice to move beyond temporary or fragmented responses. I’ll be discussing Wicklow’s experience of co‑creating Traveller accommodation solutions through long‑term engagement and structured consultation.
I look forward to the discussion in Valletta and to exchanging ideas.
