Border People

In 2001, the North South Ministerial Council (NSMC) facilitating cooperation between Ireland and Northern Ireland, published a Study of Obstacles to Mobility, which explored the wide range of obstacles hindering people when moving across the Irish border to live and work. The report presented 50 recommendations/solutions, including a one-stop cross-border mobility information website. 

In 2007, the Centre for Cross-Border Studies (CCBS) of Armagh was entrusted to develop a Cross-border Mobility website (www.borderpeople.info) as a central access point for all cross-border mobility information on the island of Ireland. It provides practical information for people crossing the border to live, work, study or retire. It provides a signposting service to a wide range of (single jurisdiction) information sources, the most popular of which are in the areas of social security, taxation, welfare benefits, healthcare, pensions, and motoring.

The Border People project is a clear example of cross-border cooperation at its most pragmatic and sensible way: a means of making government departments, information and advice providers and the general public in both Irish jurisdictions more knowledgeable and thus more effective in dealing with practical obstacles to cross-border mobility.