The DHSSPS was a participant in the New TSN Promoting Social Inclusion Working Group on Travellers, which highlighted the poor health of Irish Travellers in comparison with similar socio-economic groups in the settled community.

In conjuction with the Department of Health and Children ( DOHC ), the DHSSPS commissioned an All Ireland Traveller Health Study which was completed by University College Dublin ( UCD ) and launched on 2 September 2010.