Existing research has shown that deprived areas were impacted to a greater extent by the COVID-19 pandemic in a multitude of ways but particularly in terms of the health impact. This research examines the health impact of the pandemic on people living in disadvantaged areas in Ireland. Health...

The social inclusion of children with disabilities, and in particular their inclusion in early learning and care settings, is key to maximising their wellbeing, care and future education. It is therefore vital that children with disabilities have equal access to early learning and school age...

This paper examines the impacts of the introduction of the UK National Minimum Wage (NMW) in 1999 and the introduction of the UK National Living Wage (NLW) in 2016 in Northern Ireland (NI) on employment and hours. NI is the only part of the UK with a land border where the NMW and NLW cover those...

In 2016, the Irish minimum wage increased from €8.65 to €9.15 per hour. A new ESRI study, funded by the Low Pay Commission, found that the 2016 minimum wage increase led to higher labour costs among firms with more than half of their employees on the minimum wage. However, these types of...

Evaluation and monitoring are key tools to ensuring that public monies are being effectively spent and that government-funded programmes, and initiatives, are achieving their stated goals and objectives. This report examines international best practice in evaluation and monitoring in areas...

Using data for 2017 and 2018, this report provides a comparative analysis of minimum wage employment in Ireland, relative to a selection of other European countries with a statutory minimum wage. We estimate that just under 10 per cent of employees in Ireland were on the minimum wage during this...

This study uses new administrative earnings data, linked to the Irish Labour Force Survey, to analyse the impact of three successive minimum wage increases that took place over the period 2016 to 2018, on the hours worked of minimum wage employees. The study allows for the assessment of the...

Ireland and Northern Ireland share many social, historical and geographical characteristics but their political institutions and the configuration of policy are very different. This report summarises some key findings from the extensive and ambitious research programme between the ESRI and the...