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Children & Youth Affairs Minister Frances Fitzgerald today published the National Strategy for Research and Data on Children’s Lives 2011-2016. The document sets out a strategic direction for children’s research at national level and incorporates 59 actions by 24 statutory and research bodies.

The National Strategy for Research and Data on Children’s Lives 2011-2016 sets out a strategic direction for children’s research and mobilises the resources and efforts of 24 organisations in a comprehensive action plan for data and research on children’s lives over a five year period. Four key issues that cut across research and data needs in all areas of children’s lives were identified as priorities:

• development of a national strategic approach to information around children’s lives;

• improvement of administrative data systems;

• building capacity across all areas of research and data development, particularly analytic capability;

• supporting evidence-informed policy and practice

The action plan component of the strategy sets out 59 actions to be undertaken by 24 statutory and research bodies over the period of the strategy to address the deficits identified. Some key items include:

• Initiatives to harmonise data holdings leading to improved analysis and reporting

• The development of information systems on children in the care of the State and in need of protection;

• Data linkage projects;

• Service evaluation, in particular in early years education;

• Provision of post-graduate scholarships and summer / winter schools for research and policy personnel;

• Improvements in knowledge transfer – for example the production of key findings for policy and practice from specific research projects.

Speaking at today’s event, the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs, Frances Fitzgerald TD said:

If we want to do better for Irish children; then we need to understand our children; their lives, their experiences, their expectations. I am delighted that this is one area where we, in Ireland, are world-leaders. I am constantly impressed at the range of excellent research already taking place, such as ‘Growing up in Ireland’, the National Longitudinal Study of Children.

The new Strategy being launched today will build on this excellence and allow us to further improve our understanding of the lives of children and young people in Ireland so that through better understanding we can develop better policies and improve services. In harnessing the co-operation and resources of more than 20 statutory and academic organisations, this Strategy provides a unique and comprehensive approach to achieving an holistic and deep understanding of children and their lives

Read the full press release here.