AbstractThis paper investigates changes over the period 2005 to 2014 in material deprivation dynamics of social risk groups in 11 European countries covering a range of welfare regimes. The period covered experienced dramatic economic change, encompassing periods of boom, the Great Recession and early recovery. Social risk groups are defined as groups which differ in the challenges that they face in converting resources into desired outcomes. The comparative element of the paper allows us to assess whether certain welfare regimes were better at protecting more vulnerable groups. Results, based on the longitudinal component of the European Union Statistics on Income and Living Conditions and on analysis of deprivation dynamics between pairs of years, showed large inequality between groups in the risk of persistent deprivation – with lone parents and people with disability most at risk in all countries. Variation across welfare regimes was restricted to the contrast between the liberal and the remaining regimes. Countries belonging to the former regime (UK and Ireland) were distinctive in showing the largest social risk gap in persistent deprivation and were the only ones which experienced substantial polarisation between groups with the Great Recession.

A new ESRI study commissioned by the Department of Social Protection found that tied cash and non-cash transfers are associated with lower deprivation, especially among vulnerable families. The authors considered benefits tied to housing, childcare, and medical services using 2017 data.

In this paper we provide an overview of the movement in Ireland from a focus on income poverty to the incorporation of deprivation indicators in a multidimensional approach to the measurement of poverty. We then seek to place this approach, involving a restricted incorporation of deprivation dimensions, in the context of a broader multidimensional approach to the understanding of poverty in Ireland. We proceed to extend our consideration to multidimensional approaches to quality of life which have involved macro and micro approaches to developing aggregate measures that go well beyond the normal concerns of poverty research. In so doing, we will seek to show that while all of these approaches must face key judgements relating to choices of dimensions, thresholds, weighting and aggregation, there is significant variation in the challenges posed in relation to the scale of aggregation, the degree of multidimensionality aspired to and the availability of data sources that match such ambitions. Given these issues, the superiority of a multidimensional approach and of a focus more broadly on quality of life must be demonstrated rather than assumed.

This paper traces the evolution of social supports for housing since 2004, including local authority (LA) housing, housing provided by Approved Housing Bodies (AHB) and support for renting in the private sector through schemes administered by the local government sector (Rental Accommodation Scheme (RAS) and the Housing Assistance Payment (HAP)) and the Rent Supplement scheme operated by the Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection. Given the increased use of the private sector to provide housing for low-income households, the paper draws on SILC data to examine changes between 2004 and 2015 in the quality of housing in different sectors. as measured by problems such as dampness, lack of central heating, lack of double glazing, insufficient light and noise. The analysis finds that the overall percentage of housing that is socially supported increased during the recession to 17 per cent from 13 per cent in the boom years (2004-2007, mainly via increased use of Rent Supplement) but dropped back towards pre-recession levels by 2015 (about 15 per cent). The use of the private sector as a source of socially-supported housing rose from 28 per cent in the boom years to 42 per cent during the recession before dropping back to 33 per cent by 2016. Housing quality improved between 2004 and 2015. with a drop from 16 per cent to 9 per cent in the percentage of people living in dwellings with two or more of five quality problems; the improvements were significantly greater for those living in rented than owned/mortgaged dwellings, though rented dwellings remained at a disadvantage in 2015. Improvements in quality in the rented sector were found across the income distribution.

This research examines the experiences of discrimination in Ireland for people with disabilities. Dr Joanne Banks presented key findings from the research at the launch of the report on 1 October 2018. View the video below. Monitoring the CRPD - Disability and Discrimination (research findings): Dr Joanne Banks ESRI from IHREC on Vimeo.

This study, commissioned by the GAA and the GPA, uses data from a survey of 2016 players to examine the commitments required to play senior inter-county Gaelic games, and the impact that this has on players’ personal and professional lives, and their club involvement.

In this paper, we draw on Irish SILC data to examine the roles of social class, non-class risk groups and state policies in influencing enforced material deprivation as Ireland moved from a period of economic boom through deep recession and on to early recovery. We also employ Sen’s capability approach to explore the extent to which certain social risk groups differ in their capacity to convert social class-differentiated resources into increased capability in relation to avoiding material deprivation. The findings refute the notion of polarization either across time as a result of recession or as a result of more vulnerable social risk groups experiencing more pronounced social class differences. Instead, the impact of recession on social class and social risk group operated mainly in an additive manner with each having a relatively independent impact on deprivation. The exception was lone parents who were less able to convert the benefits of higher social class position into reduced deprivation levels.

Introduction Given the changing nature of employment, including the long term shift from manufacturing and agriculture to the service sector, an increasing proportion of the workforce is engaged in employment which is less physically demanding but which brings with it a range of stress-related and psycho-social risks. Eurofound (2006) estimated that in 2005, 20% of EU-15 workers reported health related risk due to work-related stress and the EU OSHA (2007) has identified high emotional demands and work intensification as key emerging psychosocial risks for the occupational health and safety of workers. Methods This paper draws on the 2015 European Working Conditions Survey to examine differences in the exposure of workers across Europe to (a) work stressors (physical risks, chemical/biological hazards, physically demanding work, psychosocial risks and work pressure); (b) the mediating role of work organised to enhance autonomy, supportiveness of management and colleagues and (b) the response of workers in terms of the subjective experience of stress, anxiety and depression. Results Results to include the following: Country differences in exposure to workplace hazards and stressors Extent to which these are linked to country differences in the composition of jobs by sector The role played by the organisation of work (autonomy, supportiveness) in mediating the impact on workers Country differences in the extent to which they adopt forms of work organisation that ameliorate the impact of stressors on workers. Discussion The organisation of work has an important role to play in ameliorating the impact of workplace risks on outcomes for workers.

Introduction In Ireland between 2002–2013, Musculoskeletal Disorders (MSD) accounted for 50% of self-reported work-related illnesses. Moreover the average number of days absent (15.9 days) was higher than the average of 12.8 days for all other illnesses (except stress, anxiety and depression). Methods This paper examines trends and determinants for work-related MSD between 2002 and 2013, using annual cross-sectional data from the Quarterly National Household Survey (QNHS). Results Rates of MSD were strongly linked to the economic cycle. Rates per 1000 workers ranged from 11 in 2002 to 19 during the economic boom before falling to 7 during the recession (2009). The 2013 rate in a recovering economy was 14 per 1000 workers. This pro-cyclical pattern remained when characteristics of workers and their workplace were held constant using logistic regression. Furthermore, within sectors, rates were higher when the annual percentage change in employment was positive. We also found that certain worker and workplace factors influenced the risk of MSD independently. Workers aged 35–64 had the highest risk of MSD (2.5 times more than workers <25 years). Construction sector workers, followed by those working in agriculture and health, had the greatest risk of MSD. Rates in education and all other services sectors were much lower. The self-employed, those working 40 to 49 hours per week (compared to <30 hours), shift workers, and new recruits (with <6 months job experience) also had a higher risk of MSD. Discussion These findings show that some groups of workers face a higher risk of work-related MSD and that further monitoring and targeted measures are needed to support employers and employees especially at a time of economic recovery. Full results and description of the methodology can be found at http://www.esri.ie/publications/work-related-illness/

A new ESRI study, funded by the Health and Safety Authority (HSA), finds that job stress among employees in Ireland doubled from 8 per cent in 2010 to 17 per cent in 2015. However, the level of job stress in Ireland was still below the average for ten Western European countries in 2015 (19 per cent). The report uses two waves of a European-wide dataset, the European Working Conditions Survey, carried out in 2010 and 2015, to examine the working conditions that are associated with job stress.

New ESRI research finds that PLC courses have positive outcomes for students in terms of accessing employment and progressing to higher education. However, the study finds that PLC courses could be more responsive to changing labour market needs. The types of courses have not changed over time despite dramatic changes in the types of jobs available in Ireland.

Post-Leaving Certificate (PLC) courses represent the largest component of full-time further education and training (FET) provision in Ireland, with over 32,000 learners enrolled in such courses in 2015–2016. Recent research on the FET sector as a whole highlighted concerns around its structures and responsiveness to labour market conditions, among other issues (McGuinness et al., 2014). The SOLAS FET Strategy (2014) subsequently pointed to the need for a stronger evidence base in order to inform future policy development in the sector. This study, commissioned by SOLAS, provides a more detailed evaluation of PLC provision. In order to undertake a comprehensive evaluation, our approach has been to combine a variety of research modes in order to examine the underlying processes, experiences and outcomes of PLC provision. This involved three complementary research strands. Firstly, a desk-based analysis of administrative data was used to document the type of provision in terms of field of study and the distribution of PLC places across the country. Secondly, a survey of PLC principals was carried out in order to explore their perceptions of goals, adequacy of existing facilities and the benefits and challenges of PLC provision. Thirdly, a survey of PLC and Leaving Certificate leavers was conducted to assess their labour market outcomes as well as their experiences while taking PLC and higher education courses. Together, these strands provide comprehensive evidence to inform the future development of the sector.

The issue of multidimensionality is well established in poverty research, and it is generally recognised that income alone is inadequate as a measure of social inclusion or quality of life (QoL). However, social policy still tends to address the different dimensions of QoL—such as poverty, health, housing and social cohesion—in isolation. This raises the question of the variation across dimensions or groups in the extent of multidimensionality. For instance, are housing or health problems experienced by people with a range of other QoL problems, or do they tend to occur in isolation? Does this differ between social risk groups, such as lone parents, older adults or children? The answers have implications for the service needs of people with health problems or with inadequate housing. We address these issues in this paper, analysing the 2013 quality of life module on the EU-SILC data for Ireland and adapting the adjusted headcount ratio methodology of Alkire and Foster to address the issue of multidimensionality.

Women make up the majority of those employed in the civil service but are underrepresented at the most senior grades, where key policy and operational decisions are taken. Action 8 of the Civil Service Renewal Plan commits to improving gender balance at each level, including senior grades. The present study was commissioned by a high-level steering group set up to oversee implementation of this action. It draws on a combination of administrative data, reanalysis of the Civil Service Employee Engagement Survey conducted in 2015, and in-depth work history interviews with 50 senior civil servants across four departments. In addition, in-depth interviews were conducted with staff involved in recruitment and promotion within the public service. This rich combination of data yields new insights into the processes shaping gender differences in representation at the most senior grades of the civil service and thus provides a strong evidence base to inform future policy and practice.

The report examines a number of different types of risks that farmers take and looks at whether they are associated with accidents or “near misses” on the farm...

This paper seeks to distil the lessons on poverty measurement from a period that extends back to the early days of poverty research at the ESRI in the mid to late 1980s. What was the problem to which non-monetary indicators was the solution? How were the indicators chosen and justified? What have we learned about the role and limitations of non-monetary indicators? What are the key future challenges? It makes clear that a variety of approaches are required to do justice to the complex and multi-faceted nature of poverty. The essential elements of the definition of poverty underpinning the research at the ESRI has been that poverty is something rooted in a lack of resources that results in exclusion from the customary standard of living. In pursuing such understanding over the last thirty years, the ESRI research programme has sought to develop measures exhibiting satisfactory levels of reliability and validity which are subject to re-evaluation in changing circumstances. The paper demonstrates that, viewed from a broader sociological perspective on social stratification, the fact that the complexities of poverty and social exclusion are far from being adequately captured by a single indicator relating to current disposable income is not surprising. Measurement of poverty must be viewed within a broader framework relating to the socially structured nature of disadvantage and social inequality. As a consequence poverty targets need to be framed in a manner which focuses attention on long-term structural issues.

Employment is a crucial issue for people with disabilities because it has a strong bearing on their social inclusion and their economic welfare. For policymakers to help improve the wellbeing of people with disabilities, it is vital to understand the processes that lead to employment entries and exits among people with disabilities, including differences in this respect between those with distinct types of disability. To help address some of these questions, this report draws on data from the Quarterly National Household Survey (QNHS) to examine employment transitions of people with disabilities in Ireland. The QNHS tracks people for up to five calendar quarters and has a large enough sample size to allow an examination of the circumstances of working-age people with disabilities. This means that the data can be used to examine employment-related transitions and the circumstances in which they occur.

A new report published by the ESRI finds that education is key to improving the employment and living circumstances of Travellers. The authors of A Social Portrait of Travellers in Ireland draw on the full 2011 Census of Population to explore whether certain groups of Travellers (in terms of gender, age and region) experience particularly high levels of disadvantage in four areas: education, employment, housing and health.