REVIEW OF RESEARCH 2020 - Informed policy for a better Ireland - The Economic and Social Research Institute
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REVIEW OF
RESEARCH
2020
Informed policy for a better Ireland
About the ESRI
The Economic and Social Research Institute is an ESRI researchers uphold the highest academic
independent research institute working towards standards. The quality of the Institute’s research
a vision of ‘Informed policy for a better output is guaranteed by a rigorous peer review
Ireland’. The ESRI seeks to support sustainable process. Research is published only when it
economic growth and social progress in Ireland meets the required standards and practices.
by providing a robust knowledge base capable Research quality has also been assessed as part
of providing effective solutions to public policy of two peer reviews of the Institute, in 2010 and
challenges. 2016.
The Institute was founded in 1960 by a group ESRI research findings are disseminated widely
of senior civil servants, led by Dr T.K. Whitaker, in books, journal articles and reports. Reports
who identified the need for independent and published by the ESRI are available to download,
in-depth research to support the policymaking free of charge, from its website. ESRI staff
process in Ireland. Since then, the Institute has members communicate research findings at
remained committed to independent research regular conferences and seminars, which provide
and its work is free of any expressed ideology a platform for representatives from government,
or political position. The Institute publishes all civil society and academia to discuss key findings
research reaching the appropriate academic from recently published studies and ongoing
standard, irrespective of its findings or who funds research.
the research.
The ESRI is a company limited by guarantee,
The ESRI brings together leading experts from answerable to its members and governed by a
a variety of disciplines who work together to Council, comprising a minimum of 11 members
break new ground across a number of research and a maximum of 14 members, who represent
initiatives. The expertise of its researchers a cross-section of ESRI members: academia,
is recognised in public life and researchers civil service, state agencies, businesses and civil
are represented on the boards and advisory society.
committees of several national and international
organisations.
Contents
Introduction���������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������3
The year in numbers������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������4
ESRI Conferences and Public Seminars�������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������5
Conferences, Webinars and Workshops������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������5
Public Seminars��������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������6
Research Areas���������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������7
Behavioural Science�������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������8
Competitiveness, Trade and FDI��������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������� 14
Education���������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������� 21
Energy, Environment and Infrastructure�������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������� 26
Growing Up in Ireland������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������� 34
Health and Quality of Life������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������� 40
Labour Market and Skills��������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������� 46
Macroeconomics���������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������� 52
Migration, Integration and Demography������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������� 58
Social Inclusion and Equality�������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������� 64
Tax, Welfare and Pensions������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������ 70
External Commitments of Research Staff������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������ 76
Staff List as of 31 December 2020���������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������� 81
ESRI Review of Research 2020 1
(L to R) Philip Lane (European Central Bank) and Alan Barrett (Director, ESRI) in conversation at the
Royal Irish Academy on 14 February 2020.
(l to R) Alan Barrett (Director, ESRI) and Michael McGrath TD, Minister for Public Expenditure and
Reform meeting in the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform on 23 September 2020.
2 ESRI Review of Research 2020
Introduction
The ESRI’s annual Review of Research is an We re-directed our research agenda rapidly in
opportunity for us to describe the important 2020 and, like many others, changed our working
work of the Institute as we strive to achieve practices overnight to a remote model. However,
our vision of ‘informed policy for a better we also maintained the core features of our work
Ireland’. The ESRI performs a unique role in and I will mention just two here.
Irish public life in producing high-quality, in-
dependent research which functions as a key Firstly, our commitment to academic rigour was
input into evidence-informed policy-making. maintained. A rigorous peer review process
guarantees the quality of the Institute’s research
The extent of public policy challenges and the output and we publish work only when it meets
need for evidence were never more evident than the highest standards. Our researchers also
in 2020 as the world grappled with the COVID publish in international peer-reviewed journals,
crisis. At the time of writing, the crisis continues thereby demonstrating that our work measures
although with hope on the horizon as the vaccine up to top international standards.
programme gathers pace.
Secondly, the Institute remained independent,
From early in 2020, the Institute re-oriented its with its work free of any expressed ideology or
research agenda and worked to contribute to
political position. We publish all research reaching
the broader understanding of the impacts of the
the appropriate academic standard, irrespective
crisis and the policies needed to mitigate those
of its findings or who funds the research.
impacts. In the case of some of our research
programmes, the inputs into the policy sphere As we look ahead to widespread vaccination
were very direct. For example, the Health team and the re-opening of Ireland’s economy and
supported the work of the National Public Health society, the ESRI will remain committed to
Emergency Team (NPHET) through their work supporting informed public debate by promoting
on modelling the demands on the healthcare the importance of high-quality research, by
system arising from COVID. Our Behavioural
making our research widely available and by
Research Unit also supported NPHET, for example,
communicating the results in a variety of public
by developing clearer insights into how public
fora.
health messaging could be most effectively
communicated. Our Tax, Pensions and Welfare Before concluding, I want to thank our funders,
team undertook analysis of the costs and our members and our research partners for their
distributional impacts of the new COVID-related valuable support. I would like to acknowledge in
payments. particular the grant provided by the Department
Other strands of research also provided important of Public Expenditure and Reform. I would
insights into how the crisis was impacting upon also like to thank the numerous government
different groups. For example, the challenges for departments, state agencies and other
disadvantaged children, younger workers and organisations that commissioned the research
women all featured in ESRI research and the described throughout this document.
associated reports will help to direct policy in the
coming months and years as we work to redress
the negative impacts of the crisis. In addition, Professor Alan Barrett
the macroeconomic impacts were assessed Director of the ESRI
in the four issues of the Quarterly Economic
Commentary.
ESRI Review of Research 2020 3
2020
The Year in Numbers
Publications Research
Bulletins 31
70 Journal
articles
Book/Report
chapters 11
42 ESRI Working
Papers Reports 51
Oireachtas Written answers 49
+ Committee
mentions 54
ESRI researchers + 78 Dáil debates
addressed Oireachtas The ESRI was + 11 Seanad debates
committees 2 times. mentioned in
Oireachtas
proceedings
183 times.
Media Events
72 35
(29 online)
radio and
television
interviews
Research programmes and projects
New research Completed research Ongoing research
programmes and programmes and programmes and
projects: projects: projects:
54 17 83
ESRI CONFERENCES AND
PUBLIC SEMINARS 2020
CONFERENCES, WEBINARS AND WORKSHOPS
• Value of the local environment for health • Evaluation of SICAP pre-employment
and wellbeing: planning implications, supports, September
January • UCD-ESRI energy policy research conference,
• Growing Up in Ireland data workshop, September
January, March, September • International practices on civics and
• Attracting and retaining migrant-led start- language requirements linked to
ups and innovative entrepreneurs from naturalisation, September
outside the EU, January • ‘Has the Gender Revolution Stalled?’ – 2020
• Environmental policy, competitiveness Geary Lecture with Paula England, Professor
and green growth: International and Irish of Sociology, NYU, October
evidence, February • ESRI post-Budget briefing, October
• The potential costs and distributional effect • Student and school leader experience of
of COVID-19 related unemployment in Educate Together second-level, October
Ireland, April
• Growing Up in Ireland 12th Annual Research
• Minimum wage policy in Ireland, May Conference, October
• MaREI’s 9th Annual Energy and Climate • Supporting young people’s sexual health and
Policy Research Seminar, May wellbeing through evidence and practice,
• The effect of the COVID-19 pandemic on November
consumption and indirect taxes in Ireland, • Social transfers and deprivation in Ireland: A
May study of cash and non-cash payments tied
• National statuses for migrants in need of to housing, childcare, and primary health
protection: Ireland and the EU, May care services, November
• Origin and integration: A study of migrants • Environment, health & wellbeing conference
in the 2016 Irish Census, June 2020, November
• Child poverty in Ireland and the pandemic • Arts and cultural participation among
recession, July 17-year-olds, November
• Income adequacy in retirement, July • Gender balance at work: a study of an Irish
• Implications of the COVID-19 pandemic for Civil Service department, December
policy in relation to children and young • Supporting integration: access to citizenship
people, July in Ireland and the EU, December
• Launch of new Growing Up in Ireland • Monitoring migrant integration in Ireland
report: ‘Growing Up in Ireland: The Lives of and COVID-19, December
17/18-Year-Olds’, July
ESRI Review of Research 2020 5
ESRI PUBLIC SEMINAR SERIES
• Estimated human capital externalities in an • The regional effect of Australia’s Consumer
endogenous growth framework, January Directed Care model for older people,
• The impact of social prescribing on general November
practice use, February • Age, morbidity, or something else? A
• Good schools or good students? The residual approach using microdata to
importance of selectivity for school rankings, measure the impact of technological
March progress on healthcare expenditure,
December
(L to R) Paul Gosling, (Special Advisor to the SDLP); Alan Barrett (Director, ESRI); Matthew O’Toole
(SDLP MLA); and Seamus McGuinness (ESRI) meeting in Stormont on 2 September 2020.
Alan Barrett (Director, ESRI) at the EMN Ireland/Department of Justice conference titled ‘Attracting
and Retaining Migrant-led Start-ups and Innovative Entrepreneurs from outside the EU’ held on 29
January 2020
6 ESRI Review of Research 2020
RESEARCH AREAS
A key feature of research in the ESRI is its multidisciplinary and collaborative nature.
ESRI researchers are involved in cutting-edge research projects, inspired by an
international and vibrant team across multiple disciplines. The research outputs
contribute to the national and international debate on major issues for society.
In 2020 the Institute’s research agenda was organised in the following 11 areas:
BEHAVIOURAL
TAXATION, SCIENCE
COMPETITIVENESS,
WELFARE AND
TRADE AND FDI
PENSIONS
SOCIAL INCLUSION
AND EQUALITY EDUCATION
MIGRATION, ENERGY,
INTEGRATION AND ENVIRONMENT &
DEMOGRAPHY INFRASTRUCTURE
LABOUR MARKETS GROWING UP IN
AND SKILLS IRELAND
HEALTH AND
MACROECONOMICS QUALITY OF
LIFE
ESRI Review of Research 2020 7
8 ESRI Review of Research 2020
Behavioural
Science
ESRI Review of Research 2020 9Behavioural
Science
RESEARCH AREA
COORDINATOR:
Pete Lunn
Highlights
• A review of evidence for using behavioural
OTHERS WORKING IN science to fight COVID-19, which included
THIS AREA INCLUDE: an extensive literature search of relevant
Deirdre Robertson, Shane behavioural interventions and studies of
crises, was published at the start of the
Timmons, Kieran Mohr,
pandemic in Ireland.
Hannah Julienne, Ciarán Lavin
and Martina Barjaková • An experimental pre-test of COVID Tracker,
Ireland’s COVID-19 contact-tracing app, was
carried out before its launch, with a large
sample of smartphone users.
10 ESRI Review of Research 2020The Behavioural Science research area uses
controlled laboratory, online and field
experiments to investigate decisions and
behaviours across multiple policy areas. For
the Behavioural Research Unit (BRU), 2020 was
dominated by work on COVID-19
At the beginning of the pandemic, the team The results demonstrated better public
produced a rapid review of relevant evidence, engagement with some versions. These
ranging from tests of practical interventions findings fed directly into the design and
designed to increase handwashing to how successful launch of the app.
best to galvanise support for collective public
In addition to work on COVID-19, the BRU
action. This review was the first international
completed an experimental study, funded
paper to be published on how to use
by the OECD, that involved undertaking a
behavioural science to support the COVID-19
laboratory experiment in Ireland and Chile.
response.
The study showed that consumers in both
Pete Lunn, the head of the BRU, joined the a developed and an emerging economy
Behavioural Change Subgroup of NPHET, which were vulnerable to exploitation through
commissioned a series of research studies personalised pricing (varying prices charged
from the team, funded by the Department to different customers based on background
of Health. The studies were designed to characteristics or internet search histories),
investigate different aspects of the public regardless of the strength of online regulatory
response to the pandemic. This stream of work disclosures.
was turned around very rapidly, using online
The BRU also completed an online pre-test
data collection. It led to papers on: testing
of explanatory ‘primers’ designed to explain
effective ways to promote social distancing,
time-of-use (ToU) tariffs to residential
measuring public expectations, trialling
electricity consumers, funded by the
communications to support people needing to
Commission for the Regulation of Utilities.
self-isolate, measuring public understanding
The study demonstrated generational
of the Test-and-Trace system, comparing
differences in how consumers respond to the
public and expert perceptions of the riskiness
potential financial and environmental benefits
of different social activities, and gauging the
of ToU tariffs. It also showed that presenting
reliability of self-reports of compliance with
tariffs as graphical clocks made consumers
public health guidelines.
more likely to make mistakes. The findings
One additional study involved pre-testing are being used to assist consumers during the
different versions of COVID Tracker, Ireland’s rollout of smart meters across the country.
contact-tracing app. The online study
randomised participants to download one
of eight different versions of the app, which
varied in their ‘call to action’ and description
of how the app worked and stored data.
ESRI Review of Research 2020 11Journal Articles Predicting farms’ noncompliance with
regulations on nitrate pollution, Journal of
Environmental Planning and Management,
Pete Lunn, Seán Lyons, Martin Murphy.
Can Visual Cues to Portion Size Reduce
the Number of Portions Consumed? Two Rainfall, population density and voter turnout,
Randomized Controlled Trials, Annals of Electoral Studies, Vol. 64, April 2020, 102128,
Behavioral Medicine, Deirdre Robertson, Abian Garcia Rodriguez, Paul Redmond.
Ciarán Lavin, Pete Lunn.
Smart choices? An experimental study of smart
Demographic variation in active consumer meters and time-of-use tariffs in Ireland,
behaviour: On-line search for retail broadband Energy Policy, Vol. 140, May 2020, 111243,
services, Heliyon, Vol 6, Issue 7, July 2020, Cameron Belton, Pete Lunn.
e04478, Elsevier, Philip Carthy, Pete Lunn,
Using Behavioral Science to help fight the
Seán Lyons.
Coronavirus, Journal of Behavioral Public
Experimental evidence for the effects of Administration, Vol. 3, No. 1, 2020, Pete
emissions charges and efficiency information Lunn, Cameron Belton, Ciarán Lavin, Féidhlim
on consumer car choices, Journal of Cleaner McGowan, Shane Timmons, Deirdre Robertson.
Production, Vol. 254, May 2020, 120140, Áine
Using decision aids to support self-isolation
Ní Choisdealbha, Shane Timmons, Pete Lunn.
during the COVID-19 pandemic, Psychology &
Green and simple: Disclosures on eco- Health, Routledge, Pete Lunn, Shane Timmons,
labels interact with situational constraints in Hannah Julienne, Cameron Belton, Martina
consumer choice, Journal of Consumer Policy, Barjaková, Ciarán Lavin, Féidhlim McGowan.
Vol. 43, 2020, pp. 699–722, Springer, Áine Ní
Choisdealbha, Pete Lunn.
It depends on how you ask: measuring bias Reports and Other Publications
in population surveys of compliance with
COVID-19 public health guidance, Journal of
Epidemiology and Community Health, 2020, Public expectations for lifting COVID-19
BMJ Publishing Group Ltd, Shane Timmons, restrictions, ESRI Survey and Statistical Report
Frances McGinnity, Cameron Belton, Martina Series No. 88, ESRI, Dublin, Cameron Belton,
Barjaková, Pete Lunn. Hannah Julienne, Shane Timmons, Martina
Barjaková, Ciarán Lavin, Féidhlim McGowan,
Motivating social distancing during the
Pete Lunn.
COVID-19 pandemic: An online experiment,
Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, Pete Lunn, Public understanding and perceptions of the
Shane Timmons, Cameron Belton, Martina COVID-19 Test-and-Trace system, ESRI Survey
Barjaková, Hannah Julienne, Ciarán Lavin. and Statistical Report Series No. 96, ESRI,
Dublin, Shane Timmons, Martina Barjaková,
Nudger beware: Diagnosis precedes remedy,
Deirdre Robertson, Cameron Belton, Pete Lunn.
Journal of Behavioral Economics for Policy, Vol.
3, Special Issue, pp. 23-26, Pete Lunn.
Official advice improves mortgage-holders’
perceptions of switching: Experimental
evidence, Behavioural Public Policy, Shane
Timmons, Martina Barjaková, Terence
McElvaney, Pete Lunn.
12 ESRI Review of Research 2020ESRI Research Bulletins ESRI Working Papers
CCPC advice helps consumers judge Behavioural pre-testing of COVID Tracker,
mortgage offers, but potentially serious Ireland’s contact tracing app, ESRI, Dublin,
misunderstandings remain, ESRI, Dublin, Hannah Julienne, Ciarán Lavin, Cameron
Shane Timmons, Martina Barjaková, Terence Belton, Martina Barjaková, Shane Timmons,
McElvaney, Pete Lunn. Pete Lunn.
Consumers struggle to choose new types of Eliciting trade-offs between water charges
electricity tariffs, but comparison tools can and service benefits in Scotland, ESRI, Dublin,
help, ESRI, Dublin, Cameron Belton, Cameron Belton, Ciarán Lavin, Pete Lunn.
Pete Lunn.
Is it riskier to meet 100 people outdoors or 14
Green and simple: Effective eco-labelling people indoors? Comparing public and expert
for busy consumers, ESRI, Dublin, Áine Ní perceptions of COVID-19 risk, ESRI, Dublin,
Choisdealbha, Pete Lunn. Shane Timmons, Cameron Belton, Deirdre
Robertson, Martina Barjaková, Ciarán Lavin,
How much do survey estimates of compliance
Hannah Julienne, Pete Lunn.
with COVID-19 advice depend on how the
question is asked?, ESRI, Dublin, Shane Motivating social distancing during the
Timmons, Frances McGinnity, Cameron Belton, COVID-19 pandemic: An online experiment,
Martina Barjaková, Pete Lunn. ESRI, Dublin, Pete Lunn, Shane Timmons,
Cameron Belton, Martina Barjaková, Hannah
Online search for retail broadband services:
Julienne, Ciarán Lavin.
Who searches most?, ESRI, Dublin, Philip
Carthy, Pete Lunn, Seán Lyons. Using behavioural science to help fight the
Coronavirus, ESRI, Dublin, Pete Lunn, Cameron
Portion size markings on snack packaging
Belton, Ciarán Lavin, Féidhlim McGowan,
influence how much people eat, ESRI, Dublin,
Shane Timmons, Deirdre Robertson.
Deirdre Robertson, Ciarán Lavin, Pete Lunn.
Using decision aids to support self-isolation
Predicting which farms are most likely to
during the COVID-19 pandemic, ESRI, Dublin,
breach nitrate pollution regulations, ESRI,
Pete Lunn, Shane Timmons, Hannah Julienne,
Dublin, Pete Lunn, Seán Lyons,
Cameron Belton, Martina Barjaková, Ciarán
Martin Murphy.
Lavin, Féidhlim McGowan.
ESRI Review of Research 2020 1314 ESRI Review of Research 2020
Competitiveness,
Trade and FDI
ESRI Review of Research 2020 15Competitiveness,
Trade and FDI
RESEARCH AREA
COORDINATOR:
Iulia Siedschlag Highlights
• The speed of government interventions to
OTHER COLLEAGUES contain the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic
WORKING IN THIS AREA IN was mainly determined by countries’ health
system capacity, demographic structure and
2020 INCLUDED: economic factors. Boosting the health system
Mattia Di Ubaldo, Martina capacity would be important to reduce the cost
Lawless, Stefano Meneto of lockdown measures aimed at containing a
and Weijie Yan pandemic.
• Private investment in green technologies and
innovations with environmental benefits could
improve the competitiveness of enterprises in
the medium term.
16 ESRI Review of Research 2020ESRI research in this area focuses primarily on
structural and microeconomic factors and policies
underlying competitiveness and economic growth
in Ireland and other European countries in the
context of international economic integration
In 2020 research in this area addressed the with the EU. Further research on Brexit
following themes: government interventions examined the overall trade exposure of Ireland
to contain the spread of the COVID-19 and the particular customs status accorded
pandemic; the effects of Brexit on inputs from to Northern Ireland under the Withdrawal
Northern Ireland on Irish exports to the EU; the Agreement.
effects of green investments and innovations
on enterprise competitiveness; the impact Research funded by the Environmental
of public R&D grants on the performance of Protection Agency found that investments
awardees. in equipment for pollution control and in
equipment linked to cleaner technologies
Research on COVID-19 examined the speed improved in the medium term a range of
with which governments across the world enterprise performance outcomes, including
introduced administrative measures to contain their output, employment, productivity, export
the spread of the pandemic. The results intensity and energy intensity. The effects
indicated that governments in countries were found to be stronger for enterprises
with a weaker health system capacity and that were larger, foreign-owned and more
in countries with a larger share of elderly productive, and in low-tech industries such
populations were faster to start lockdown as the food industry. Further research in this
measures. The highest level of containment area found that enterprises that introduced
measures was reached at a slower speed innovations with environmental benefits
in larger and in more open economies. improved their export participation.
Taken together, the results suggested that
boosting the health system capacity would A study commissioned by the Department
be important to reduce the cost of lockdown of Business, Enterprise and Innovation
measures aimed at containing a pandemic. found that grants from the Enterprise Ireland
Research, Development and Innovation
Research funded by the Department for Programme have boosted the innovation and
the Economy, Northern Ireland examined economic performance of awardees. Five
the effects that Brexit could have on inputs years after receiving R&D grants, the awardees
to production in Ireland that are sourced in recorded substantial increases in their R&D
Northern Ireland. Detailed trade data was used expenditures, employment, output and export
to map the Northern Ireland inputs into Irish sales.
exports to the EU, other countries the EU has a
free-trade agreement with and the rest of the
world. The results highlighted a potential risk
to supply-chain integration on the island that
could arise if Brexit were to result in a change
in how these inputs were classified by other
countries engaged in free-trade agreements
ESRI Review of Research 2020 17Journal Articles Reports and Other Publications
Investment in knowledge-based capital and Northern Ireland inputs to Republic of Ireland
productivity: Firm-level evidence from a small EU FTA exports: Report for the Northern Ireland
open economy, Review of Income and Wealth, Department of the Economy, Northern Ireland
Mattia Di Ubaldo, Iulia Siedschlag. Department of the Economy, Belfast, Martina
Lawless.
Brexit and trade on the island of Ireland,
Revue de l’OFCE, 167 (2020/3), Martina
Lawless.
(L to R) Keynote speaker Laura Burke (Director General, Environmental Protection Agency) and Iulia
Siedschlag (ESRI) at the conference titled ‘Environmental policy, competitiveness and green
growth: International and Irish evidence’ held on 21 February 2020.
18 ESRI Review of Research 2020ESRI Working Papers
Containing the COVID-19 pandemic: What
determined the speed of Government
interventions?, ESRI, Dublin, Iulia Siedschlag, Taken together, the
Weijie Yan. results suggested
Green investments and firm performance, that boosting the
ESRI, Dublin, Iulia Siedschlag, Weijie Yan.
Green innovations and export performance,
health system
ESRI, Dublin, Stefano Meneto, Iulia Siedschlag. capacity would be
Go ahead and trade: The effect of uncertainty important to reduce
removal in the EU’s GSP scheme, ESRI, Dublin,
Ingo Borchert, Mattia Di Ubaldo.
the cost of lockdown
Product line extensions under the threat of measures aimed
entry: evidence from the UK pharmaceuticals at containing a
market, ESRI, Dublin, Farasat A. S. Bokhari,
Weijie Yan. pandemic.
What drives firms’ decisions to spend on
environmental protection?, ESRI, Dublin, Iulia
Siedschlag, Weijie Yan.
ESRI Review of Research 2020 1920 ESRI Review of Research 2020
Education
ESRI Review of Research 2020 21Education
RESEARCH AREA
COORDINATORS:
Selina McCoy, Highlights
Emer Smyth
• The innovation shown by teachers and learners
OTHERS WORKING IN during the pandemic shows the significant
potential of digital technology to improve how
THIS AREA INCLUDE:
students learn at second level.
Georgiana Mihut,
Gretta Mohan, • The use of digital video in initial teacher
Merike Darmody, education showed that the digital video footage
Ciarán Mac Domhnaill, was highly supportive in pre-service teachers’
Bertrand Maître, Seán Lyons weekly self-reflection and in developing their
and Eamonn Carroll self-reflective practice.
22 ESRI Review of Research 2020The Education research area covers all levels
of the Irish educational system, including
early childhood education, primary, second-
level, and further and higher education
Research in 2020 focused on the impact of the be important in shaping provision for students
COVID-19 pandemic for second-level students, with additional needs in primary and second-
policy and provision for students with level schools, and across the post-school
additional needs, the experiences of students landscape. Funded by Educate Together,
in Educate Together schools, the role of new research on second-level schools in this
schools in shaping health behaviours, arts and sector pointed to the inclusivity of their school
cultural participation, and the role of digital climates and their focus on student-centred
technologies in learning and wellbeing. learning, but highlighted some challenges
given that many schools are located in
In collaboration with researchers in the Energy, temporary premises.
Environment, and Infrastructure research area
and as part of a programme funded by the A number of studies drew on secondary
Department of Environment, Climate and analysis of Growing Up in Ireland data,
Communications, and ComReg, researchers including research on the role of early
surveyed and interviewed second-level mobile-phone ownership in shaping child
principals to understand the challenges for development and gender stereotyping
schools during the first period of COVID-related in perceptions of boys’ and girls’ maths
school closures. The report showed the impact performance. As part of a research programme
of inequality in terms of digital access and with the HSE undertaken with a researcher
socio-economic disadvantage. A review of in the Health area, two reports showed the
research, as part of a research programme influence of schools on the likelihood of young
with the Department of Children, people engaging in different health behaviours
Equality, Diversity, Integration and Youth, (such as drinking, smoking and exercise/diet)
highlighted the impact of the pandemic on and on their access to information about sex
the broader wellbeing of children and young and relationships. Another study, funded by
people. the Arts Council, showed the way in which
the school attended influenced 17-year-olds’
Inclusion has been an important strand of ESRI access to curricular and extracurricular arts and
education research, with new primary research culture, with DEIS schools playing an important
for the National Disability Authority role in bridging the social gap.
reviewing the provision across countries of
specialist community living and personal Education researchers continued to be
assistance supports for people with disabilities. involved in a range of work for the European
Work was initiated for the National Council Commission, including critically assessing
for Special Education on two large-scale education policy developments as part of the
studies: an evaluation of the School Inclusion Directorate General for Education and
Model and a longitudinal study on post- Culture’s Network of Independent Experts
school pathways among young people with in Education and Training.
special educational needs. Both studies will
ESRI Review of Research 2020 23Journal Articles Learning for all? Second-level education in
Ireland during COVID-19, ESRI Survey and
Statistical Report Series No. 92, ESRI, Dublin,
Gretta Mohan, Selina McCoy, Eamonn Carroll,
Secondary school subjects and gendered STEM
Georgiana Mihut, Seán Lyons, Ciarán Mac
enrollment in higher education in Germany,
Domhnaill.
Ireland, and Scotland, International Journal
of Comparative Sociology, Vol. 61, Issue 1,
2020, pp. 59-78, Marita Jacob, Cristina Iannelli,
Adriana Duta, Emer Smyth. Chapters in Books and Reports
Forbidden fruit? Student views on the use of
tablet PCs in education, Technology, Pedagogy Educational inequalities: the role of schools,
and Education, Vol. 29, Issue 3, 2020, pp. 347- Nele McElvany, Heinz Günter Holtappels,
360, Bryan Coyne, Selina McCoy. Fani Lauermann, Aileen Edele, Annika Ohle-
Post-secondary outcomes of innovative high Peters (eds.), Against the Odds – (In)Equity in
schools: The Big Picture Longitudinal Study, Education and Educational Systems, Waxmann,
Teachers College Record, Vol. 122, No. 8, Münster, Emer Smyth.
2020, Karen D. Arnold, Georgiana Mihut. Growing Up in Ireland: Insights on inclusion
Secondary school transition for students with in schools, Brian Mooney (ed.), Ireland’s
special educational needs in Ireland, European Yearbook of Education 2019–2020, Education
Journal of Special Needs Education, Vol. 35, Matters, Dublin, Georgiana Mihut, Selina
Issue 2, 2020, pp. 154-170, Selina McCoy, McCoy.
Michael Shevlin, Richard Rose. How should second-level schools respond in
Special education reforms in Ireland: changing an era of digital learning?, Brian Mooney (ed.),
systems, changing schools, International Ireland’s Yearbook of Education 2019–2020,
Journal of Inclusive Education, Neil Kenny, Education Matters, Dublin, Ann Marcus-Quinn,
Selina McCoy, Georgiana Mihut. Tríona Hourigan, Selina McCoy.
Video-based self-reflection among pre- Insights from the Youthreach evalution, Brian
service teachers in Ireland: A qualitative study, Mooney (ed.), Ireland’s Yearbook of Education
Education and Information Technologies, 2019–2020, Education Matters, Dublin, Selina
2020, Selina McCoy, Aoife Lynam. McCoy.
Leaving Certification, Miriam E. David
& Marilyn J. Amey (eds.), The SAGE
Encyclopedia of Higher Education, Emer
Reports and Other Publications Smyth.
Arts and cultural participation among 17-year-
olds, ESRI Research Series No. 103, ESRI,
Dublin, Emer Smyth. ESRI Research Bulletins
Examining the experiences of students,
teachers and leaders at Educate Together Shaping educational expectations among
second-level schools, ESRI Research Series No. 13-year-olds and their parents, ESRI, Dublin,
113, ESRI, Dublin, Selina McCoy, Georgiana Emer Smyth.
Mihut.
24 ESRI Review of Research 2020ESRI Working Papers Other Papers
Academic and socio-emotional outcomes Gender stereotyping in parents’ and teachers’
of young people with special educational perceptions of boys’ and girls’ mathematics
needs and the role of parental educational performance in Ireland, UCD Geary Institute
expectations, ESRI, Dublin, Georgiana Mihut, for Public Policy Discussion Paper 202010,
Selina McCoy, Bertrand Maître. ESRI, Dublin, Selina McCoy, Delma Byrne, Pat
O’Connor.
Choosing differently? College application
behaviour and the persistence of educational
advantage, ESRI, Dublin, Judith Delaney, Paul
Devereux.
How gender and prior disadvantage predict
performance in college, ESRI, Dublin, Judith
Delaney, Paul Devereux.
The effect of high school rank in English and
math on college major choice, ESRI, Dublin,
Judith Delaney, Paul Devereux.
ESRI Review of Research 2020 2526 ESRI Review of Research 2020
Energy,
Environment and
Infrastructure
ESRI Review of Research 2020 27Energy, Environment
and Infrastructure
RESEARCH AREA
COORDINATORS:
Seán Lyons and
John Curtis Highlights
OTHERS WORKING IN • Visiting green space is associated with positive
THIS AREA INCLUDE: outcomes for general, cardiovascular, and
Philip Carthy, Kelly De mental health. The marginal health impacts are
Bruin, Desta Fitiwi, Ankita greatest at relatively low visit levels. For instance,
Gaur, Gianluca Grilli, Dana increasing the number of green-space visits to just
once per month is associated with a 4-percentage
Kirchem, Manuel Tong
point increase in the probability of experiencing
Koecklin, Genaro Longoria, good mental health and wellbeing.
Muireann Á. Lynch, Ciarán
Mac Domhnaill, Eoin • The COVID-19 crisis is estimated to have reduced
Monaghan, Anne Nolan, 2020’s GDP by approximately 13 per cent,
Arya Pillai, Miguel Tovar whereas, from an environmental perspective,
Reaños, Constantine economy-wide CO2 emissions are expected to
decrease by 9.5 per cent. These reductions are
Spandagos, Aykut Mert anticipated to reverse as the pandemic is brought
Yakut, Shiyu Yan and under control.
Tong Zhu
28 ESRI Review of Research 2020Research in this area is funded through several
multiannual research programmes
Energy and Climate research is funded by benefit for the combined systems. Other
the Department of Environment, Climate research includes the profitability of battery
and Communications (DECC), Commission storage in electricity markets, the accuracy of
for Regulation of Utilities, ESB, Ervia, Gas wind energy forecasts, and a literature review
Networks Ireland, EirGrid, SSE Ireland, on heat pumps in the context of a low-carbon
Viridian, Terra Solar, Science Foundation transition.
Ireland (SFI), and the Sustainable Energy
Authority of Ireland. Research related to the The research programme on Environmental
environment, including fisheries and water Economics, funded by the Environmental
quality, is funded by the Department of Protection Agency (EPA), was renewed for a
Housing, Local Government, and Heritage further two-year period in June 2020. An EPA
(DHLGH), the Environmental Protection research report was published in November,
Agency, and Inland Fisheries Ireland. summarising the results of the research
Research on electronic communications conducted over the period 2018–2020.
networks and services is funded by the Additional papers on the association between
Commission for Communications rents and commuting, on the links between
Regulation (ComReg) and DECC. public park attributes, visits and health, and
on the effects of charges and efficiency
The ESRI’s Research Programme on Climate, information on consumer car choices were
Energy and the Economy focused on an also published in 2020.
analysis of the impacts of the COVID-19
crisis on Irish emissions, the economy and A new three-year phase began of our
households, and investigating the impacts of Communications research programme funded
transition to a low-carbon economy on labour by DECC and ComReg. A study was conducted
and employment. during the first COVID-19 school-building
closures, starting in March 2020, to investigate
The Energy Research Programme spans how digital connectivity, applications and
market design and regulation, energy services, devices may have mediated some effect of
energy infrastructure, and the interface with the sudden transition to distance education
society and the environment. Research for second-level schools. This led to a report
during 2020 found that regulations limiting in June 2020 focusing on the relationship
the expansion of onshore wind generation between student engagement during the
(e.g. set-back distances) leads to relatively lockdown and availability of high-speed
low increases in overall system-level costs, broadband in school catchment areas.
though there are substantial regional
variations. In terms of public acceptance of The Water research programme, in
energy infrastructure, attitudinal factors shape collaboration with DHLGH, undertook an
people’s preferences more consistently than evaluation of public initiatives to change
any of the socio-demographic characteristics. behaviours that affect water quality, and work
The wastewater treatment sector is among the is currently underway on behaviours within
largest electricity consumers in the economy, local authorities and the agriculture sector.
and ongoing research finds that integrated Fisheries research in 2020 focused on anglers’
management of both the electricity and ‘catch and release’ choices, as well as angling
wastewater systems could yield substantial demand.
ESRI Review of Research 2020 29Journal Articles
Access to and consumption of natural gas: Neuroscience application for the analysis of
Spatial and socio-demographic drivers, Energy cultural ecosystem services related to stress
Policy, Vol. 143, 2020, 111614, John Curtis, relief in forest, Forests, Vol. 11, Issue 2, 2020,
Miguel Tovar Reaños, Gianluca Grilli. 190, Sandro Sacchelli, Gianluca Grilli, Irene
Capecchi, Lorenzo Bambi, Elena Barbierato,
Do rising rents lead to longer commutes? A
Tommaso Borghini.
gravity model of commuting flows in Ireland,
Urban Studies, Vol. 58, No. 2, 2021, pp. Power system impacts of community
264–279, Seán Lyons, Achim Ahrens. acceptance policies for renewable energy
deployment under storage cost uncertainty,
Early mobile phone ownership: influencing the
Renewable Energy, Vol. 156, 2020, pp. 893-
wellbeing of girls and boys in Ireland?, Journal
912, Desta Fitiwi, Muireann Á. Lynch, Valentin
of Children and Media, Vol. 14, Issue 4, 2020,
Bertsch.
Seraphim Dempsey, Seán Lyons, Selina McCoy.
Public park attributes, park visits, and
Enhanced network effects and stochastic
associated health status, Landscape and
modelling in generation expansion planning:
Urban Planning, Vol. 199, 2020, 103814,
Insights from an insular power system,
Gianluca Grilli, Gretta Mohan, John Curtis.
Socio-Economic Planning Sciences, Vol.
71, September 2020, 100859, Desta Fitiwi, Recreational angling demand in a mixed
Muireann Á. Lynch, Valentin Bertsch. resource fishery, Fisheries Management and
Ecology, Wiley, Gianluca Grilli, Soumyadeep
Floods, flood policies and changes in welfare
Mukhopadhyay, John Curtis, Stephen Hynes.
and inequality: Evidence from Germany,
Ecological Economic, Vol. 180, February 2021, Shell shocked: The impact of foreign entry on
106879, Miguel Tovar Reaños. the gasoline retail market in China, Energy
Economics, Vol. 86, February 2020, 104690,
Heat pumps and our low-carbon future: A
Robert Elliott, Puyang Sun, Tong Zhu.
comprehensive review, Energy Research &
Social Science, Vol. 71, January 2021, 101764, The citizens in Citizen Science: Demographic,
Ankita Singh Gaur, Desta Fitiwi, John Curtis. socioeconomic, and health characteristics
of biodiversity recorders in Ireland, Citizen
Initial incidence of carbon taxes and
Science; Theory and Practice, Vol. 5, No. 1,
environmental liability. A vehicle ownership
p.16, Ubiquity Press, Ciarán Mac Domhnaill,
approach, Energy Policy, Vol. 143, 2020,
Seán Lyons, Anne Nolan.
111579, Miguel Tovar Reaños.
Why do preferences for electricity services
Modelling anglers’ fish release choices using
differ? Domestic appliance curtailment
logbook data, Journal of Environmental
contracts in Ireland, Energy Research & Social
Economics and Policy, Vol. 9, Issue 2, 2020,
Science, Vol. 69, November 2020, 101705,
pp. 206-219, Routledge, Gianluca Grilli, John
Elsevier, John Curtis, Gianluca Grilli, William
Curtis, Stephen Hynes.
Brazil, Jason Harold.
30 ESRI Review of Research 2020Reports and Other Publications
Research on the environment, health, Is early mobile phone ownership shaping
consumer behaviour and the economy: ESRI child development? A longitudinal study of
Environment Research Programme 2018–2020, wellbeing among adolescent girls and boys in
EPA Research Report No. 358, EPA, Wexford, Ireland, ESRI, Dublin, Seraphim Dempsey, Seán
Achim Ahrens, Peter Barlow, Brian Broderick, Lyons, Selina McCoy.
Philip Carthy, Aoife Donnelly, Tom Gillespie, Linking sustainable energy consumption and
Martina Hennessy, Ronan Lyons, Seán Lyons, adaptation policies against floods, ESRI, Dublin,
Pete Lunn, Ciarán Mac Domhnaill, Finn Miguel Tovar Reaños.
McLaughlin, Stefano Meneto, Frank Moriarty,
Owen Naughton, Anne Nolan, Aonghus Ó Location, location, location: determining
Domhnaill, Margaret O’Mahony, Deirdre the optimal long-run expansion of the Irish
Robertson, Iulia Siedschlag, Shane Timmons, electricity system considering spatial and
Manuel Tong Koecklin, Weijie Yan. network impacts, ESRI, Dublin, Desta Fitiwi,
Muireann Á. Lynch, Valentin Bertsch.
The environmental and economic impacts of
the COVID-19 crisis on the Irish economy: An Models of demand response and an
application of the I3E model, ESRI Research application for wastewater treatment plants,
Series No. 106, ESRI, Dublin, Kelly de Bruin, ESRI, Dublin, Dana Kirchem, Muireann Á. Lynch,
Eoin Monaghan, Aykut Mert Yakut. Valentin Bertsch, Eoin Casey.
Technical documentation of I3E model, Version Recreational angling demand in a mixed
3, ESRI Survey and Statistical Report Series No. resource fishery, ESRI, Dublin, Gianluca Grilli,
91, ESRI, Dublin, Kelly de Bruin, Aykut Mert Soumyadeep Mukhopadhyay, John Curtis,
Yakut. Stephen Hynes.
The benefits of visiting green space, ESRI,
Dublin, Gianluca Grilli, Gretta Mohan, John
ESRI Research Bulletins Curtis.
The electricity system impacts of publicly-
acceptable renewable energy development,
Curtailing use of large domestic appliances ESRI, Dublin, Desta Fitiwi, Muireann Á. Lynch,
during the peak electricity load periods, ESRI, Valentin Bertsch.
Dublin, John Curtis, Gianluca Grilli, William
Brazil, Jason Harold. The role of power-to-gas in the future energy
system: how much is needed and who wants
Fuel switching and emissions savings in the to invest?, ESRI, Dublin, Muireann Á. Lynch,
residential sector, ESRI, Dublin, John Curtis, Mel Devine, Valentin Bertsch.
Miguel Tovar Reaños, Gianluca Grill.
Urban rents and commuting times in Ireland,
Household energy poverty and children’s ESRI, Dublin, Seán Lyons, Achim Ahrens.
health, ESRI, Dublin, Gretta Mohan.
Initial incidence of carbon taxes and
environmental liability. A vehicle ownership
approach, ESRI, Dublin, Miguel Tovar Reaños.
ESRI Review of Research 2020 31Does moving home affect residential heating
ESRI Working Papers decisions? Exploring heating fuel switching in
Ireland, ESRI, Dublin, John Curtis, Gianluca Grilli.
An experimental study of attitudes to changing Renewable electricity generation and
water charges in Scotland, ESRI, Dublin, transmission network developments in light of
Cameron Belton, Deirdre Robertson, Pete Lunn. public opposition: Insights from Ireland, ESRI,
Are energy poverty metrics fit for purpose? An Dublin, Manuel Tong Koecklin, Desta Fitiwi,
assessment using behavioural microsimulation, Joseph F. de Carolis, John Curtis.
ESRI, Dublin, Miguel Tovar Reaños, Muireann Á. The use of the I3E model in macroeconomic
Lynch. analysis for the Irish economy, ESRI, Dublin,
Car ownership and the distributional and Kelly de Bruin, Eoin Monaghan, Aykut Mert
environmental policies to reduce driving Yakut.
behavior, ESRI, Dublin, Miguel Tovar Reaños. What does Paris mean for Africa? An
Climate policy costs of spatially unbalanced integrated assessment analysis of the effects
growth in electricity demand: the case of the Paris Agreement on African economies,
of datacentres, ESRI, Dublin, Desta Fitiwi, ESRI, Dublin, Kelly De Bruin and Victoria Ayuba.
Muireann Á. Lynch.
32 ESRI Review of Research 2020ESRI Review of Research 2020 33
34 ESRI Review of Research 2020
Growing Up
in Ireland
ESRI Review of Research 2020 35Growing Up in Ireland
RESEARCH AREA
COORDINATORS:
Dorothy Watson and
Emer Smyth Highlights
OTHERS WORKING IN • 13-year-olds hold lower expectations than their
parents about their educational career: only
THIS AREA INCLUDE:
half of young people compared to over three-
Aisling Murray, Desmond quarters of their mothers say they expect the
O’Mahony, Eoin McNamara, young person to go on to higher education.
Caoimhe O’Reilly, Rebecca
McClintock, Amanda Quail, Eoin • Young people become less involved in cultural
Keogh, Aoife Murphy, Elizabeth activities as they prepare for the Leaving
Burke, Brigid Francis-Devine, Certificate and leave school: there is a marked
decline in reading for pleasure and taking
Lisa Kelly, Hannah Frankis, music/drama/dance lessons between 13 and 17
Caroline Goodwin, Fionnuala years of age.
Waters and Bernadette Ryan
36 ESRI Review of Research 2020Growing Up in Ireland (GUI) is the national
longitudinal study of children in Ireland. It
is funded by the Department of Children,
Equality, Disability Integration and Youth
(DCEDIY) and is jointly managed by the
Department and the Central Statistics Office.
The research is conducted by a consortium using Growing Up in Ireland data, and a
of independent researchers at the Economic keynote address. The keynote address was
and Social Research Institute (ESRI) and Trinity delivered by Professor Emla Fitzsimons of
College Dublin. Activity in this area involves UCL, Director of the UK’s Millennium Cohort
ongoing data collection on two cohorts of Study: ‘Mental health among young people:
children and young people, and the publication longitudinal evidence from the UK’. There was
of detailed research findings by members of also, for the first time, an award for the best
the GUI team and other researchers at the paper with a public policy focus, which was
ESRI. The research examines developmental won by Dr Gretta Mohan, ESRI.
outcomes for children and young people, and
investigates how these vary between different ESRI researchers presented papers on a
groups in society and according to earlier wide range of topics at the conference,
circumstances and experiences. including the effect of the Great Recession
on socioeconomic inequalities in childhood
The year 2020 saw the completion of a obesity; the role of parents in mediating the
successful pilot survey of 13-year-olds and relationship between media consumption
their parents as a preparation for the main and child mental health from 3–9 years;
fieldwork phase in 2021. The survey methods socioeconomic disadvantage in access to
were adapted to reflect the challenges supports for young people with disabilities;
posed by the COVID-19 pandemic and related social inequality, gender, home learning
restrictions. Recognising the strong impact of activities and cognitive outcomes from early
the pandemic and associated restrictions on to middle childhood; risk and protective
children and young people, GUI researchers factors for mental health and wellbeing during
organised a survey on their experiences during childhood and adolescence; the influence of
the crisis. With the assistance of the Central caregiver’s migration status on a child’s use of
Statistics Office, a web-based survey was healthcare services; difficulties in the transition
completed in December 2020. The results will to second-level education: social background
be published in 2021. and gender gaps in Scotland and Ireland; the
effect of parental educational expectations
The 2020 Annual Conference in October was on socioemotional and academic outcomes
a virtual event, attracting a large international among 17/18-year-olds with disabilities in
audience (with 349 registered). It mirrored Ireland; socioemotional wellbeing and school
the usual in-person event, with an address social mix; and the dynamics of child poverty
Minister Dr Roderic O’Gorman T.D., three in Ireland.
parallel sessions of 27 talks from researchers
ESRI Review of Research 2020 37Reports and Other Publications
Design, instrumentation and procedures Report on the pilot for wave five of the Cohort
for cohort ’08 of Growing Up in Ireland at 9 ’08 Survey (at 9 years of age), Department
years old (Wave 5), Department of Children of Children and Youth Affairs, Dublin, Aisling
and Youth Affairs, Dublin, Eoin McNamara, Murray, James Williams, Sophie Gallagher,
Desmond O’Mahony, Aisling Murray. Maeve Thornton, Dorothy Watson, Eoin
McNamara, Desmond O’Mahony, Daráine
Growing Up in Ireland: Growing up and Murphy, Caoimhe O’Reilly.
developing as an adult: A review of the
literature on selected topics pertaining to The Growing Up in Ireland Child Cohort come
cohort ’98 at age 20 years, Department of of age: Review of the literature pertaining to
Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and the 17/18 year wave, Department of Children
Youth, Dublin, Ashling Mangan-Ryan, Eoin and Youth Affairs, Dublin, Aisling Murray, Eoin
McNamara, Desmond O’Mahony, Daráine McNamara, Daráine Murphy, Caoimhe O’Reilly,
Murphy, Caoimhe O’Reilly. Martha Neary, Oscar James.
Growing Up in Ireland: The lives of
17/18-year-olds, Department of Children and
Youth Affairs, Dublin, Eoin McNamara, Daráine
Murphy, Aisling Murray, Emer Smyth, Dorothy
Watson.
The research examines developmental
outcomes for children and young
people, and investigates how these
vary between different groups in
society and according to earlier
circumstances and experiences.
38 ESRI Review of Research 2020ESRI Review of Research 2020 39
40 ESRI Review of Research 2020
Health and
Quality of Life
ESRI Review of Research 2020 41Health and Quality
of Life
RESEARCH AREA
COORDINATORS:
Seán Lyons, Anne Nolan
and Maev-Ann Wren Highlights
OTHERS WORKING IN • Expenditure on public hospital services is projected
THIS AREA INCLUDE: to rise from €5.9 billion in 2018 to between
Aoife Brick, Sheelah €10.8 and €14.3 billion by 2035 in nominal
Connolly, Nora Donnelly, terms. Increasing input costs, especially pay, make
Conor Keegan, Elish Kelly, up most of the projected rise in expenditures.
Reducing current waiting-list backlogs and
Pete Lunn, Bertrand Maître,
maintaining waiting times is estimated to require
Frances McGinnity, Greta an additional €212 million on average per annum
Mohan, Aisling Murray, between 2021 and 2025.
Amanda Quail, Brendan
Walsh, Dorothy Watson, • A study showed that four in ten 17-year-olds
Adele Bergin, Edward Henry, had not spoken to their parents about sex and
Peter Barlow, Míde Griffin relationships. Young people who had discussed
sex and relationships with their parents at age
and Emer Smyth 13 were more likely to use contraception at first
sex. Therefore, initiatives to support parents in
developing positive communication skills may
be expected to have broader benefits in terms of
discussions about sex and relationships.
42 ESRI Review of Research 2020Health research was carried out on several
areas of health service reform and public health
during 2020.
The ESRI Research Programme in Healthcare the potential cost, outcomes, and challenges
Reform, funded by the Department of of alternative approaches to achieving
Health, published two major reports, one universal healthcare, continued in 2020. A
projecting expenditure for public hospitals further HRB-funded project, in collaboration
in Ireland from 2018 to 2035 and a second with RCSI, examining the costs of cognitive
comparing Irish healthcare expenditure to that impairment post-stroke and interventions
of other countries. Three supporting reports to ameliorate it, continued with a major
were also published covering baseline demand conference in November 2020.
for and utilisation of services, including public
hospitals, mental health, and disability. The Irish Cancer Society-funded project
on barriers and challenges to returning to
Research on the links between the employment following a cancer diagnosis
environment and health, as part of the continued in 2020 when a paper was
research programme with the EPA, continued, published examining the effect of insurance
with the programme extended for a further status on hospital waiting times. The report
two-year period in June 2020. Papers on the was launched in early 2021.
characteristics of biodiversity data recorders,
on the links between footpath availability, The HRB-funded project on Inequalities in
green space and obesity, and on the Access to GP Care concluded in 2020. Papers
relationship between air pollution and asthma published looked at: the impact of free GP
were published. care on the mental health of older people;
the health effects of energy poverty among
The research programme with HSE Health children; and the impact of prescription drug
and Wellbeing finished in 2020. Two ESRI payments on the health of children. The
reports, on clusters of health behaviours HRB-funded project on Mortality, conducted
among young people, and on sexual health in collaboration with the Irish Longitudinal
information and behaviours, were published Study on Ageing (TILDA), continued in 2020,
in 2020. Both made extensive use of the with papers on data linkage methods and
Growing Up in Ireland data. The first report discrepancies between mortality registration
found higher rates of drinking/smoking among and survey end-of-life data released in 2020.
young people whose parents are occasional or
regular smokers. The latter report found a clear
gender divide in reports of ease of discussions
with parents about sex; young women found
it easier to talk to their mothers, while young
men found it easier to talk to their fathers.
However, nearly 60 per cent of young men
found it difficult or very difficult to talk to their
fathers about sex.
A three-year (2018–2020) project funded by
the Health Research Board (HRB), examining
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