An all-Ireland study on the health of Travellers is to be undertaken by staff from University College Dublin.
The study, which is expected to take up to three years to complete, comes a fortnight after an investigation showed half of Travellers die before their 39th birthday.
Researchers from UCD's School of Public Health and Population Science, chaired by Prof Cecily Kelleher, are to assess Travellers' health on both sides of the border.
The study will be divided into four sub-sections including a population census of the Traveller community, a look at factors influencing their health and a review of the uptake of health and social services by the community.
The study will also examine the overall health of Travellers including mortality rates and life expectancy.
Announced by Minister for Health Mary Harney, the report was commissioned by her department and the North's Department of Health, Social Service and Public Safety.
Ms Harney said the results of the study would provide a framework for policy development and practice on Traveller health.
