The Shared Island unit in the Department of the Taoiseach is progressing a wide-ranging research programme to examine the political, social, economic and cultural considerations of a shared future for all communities and traditions on the island, underpinned by the Good Friday Agreement.
Deepening beneficial all-island cooperation and enhancing civic connections and understanding are key areas of focus. North/ South and East/West partnership is central to the approach.
The programme is providing both a stronger evidence-base along with a rigorous analysis to inform inclusive civic and political discussion on a shared future on the island of Ireland.
More than 20 reports have been published over the first two years of the programme.
The Shared Island unit is progressing a research partnership with the Economic and Social Research Institute - 'The Economic and Social Opportunities from Increased Cooperation on the Shared Island'. The programme produces research outputs which add to understanding of current and potential linkages across the island of Ireland in a range of economic, social and environmental domains.
Student Mobility in Ireland and Northern Ireland In September 2023, the ESRI published research on Student Mobility across the island. This research looked at the extent of student mobility in higher education between Ireland, Northern Ireland and Great Britain. The study drew on administrative data, qualitative interviews with stakeholders and a consultation with policymakers to document the nature of current mobility patterns between Ireland, Northern Ireland and Great Britain. Final research available here.
Social and political attitudes in Ireland and Northern Ireland In November 2023, the ESRI published research on Social and political attitudes in Ireland and Northern Ireland. This research compares attitudes such as trust in institutions and trust in other people; attitudes to inequality; and political attitudes, specifically - satisfaction with democracy; political voice; and expectations for the future. Final research available here and the Launch webinar is available here.
Gender and Labour Market Inclusion on the Island of Ireland This research will look at the distribution of paid work and care, the types of jobs in which women and men are employed and the rewards they receive as central determinants of broader gender inequalities in social status, well-being and poverty. This study will compare access to paid work and participation in full-time caring among women and men in Ireland and Northern Ireland. For more information on this research please click here.
Contrasting Housing Supply in Ireland and Northern Ireland This research will look at the provision of housing across the British and Irish housing markets. In particular, the key determinants of housing supply and how these have varied across the different markets will be assessed and contrasted. For more information on this research please click here.
The National Economic and Social Council, at the request of the Department of the Taoiseach, undertook a programme of research in 2021 to produce a comprehensive report on Shared Island issues for the Government, to inform the development of the Shared Island Initiative as a whole of Government priority. The report Shared Island: Shared Opportunity was launched in April 2022. This report can be viewed here,
The report makes 3 overarching conclusions:
- First, there is very significant support, in practice, for an all-island approach to key economic, social, environmental, and wellbeing challenges.
- Second, climate change and biodiversity loss provide a clear and urgent platform for ambitious all-island action and collaboration.
- Third, the factors which are shaping current and future collaboration are a shared agenda, resources, political certainty and support, legislative and regulatory coherence, and collaborative projects.
The report makes specific recommendations across five key areas in relation to the economy and investment, social policy, climate and biodiversity, wellbeing measurement and data co-ordination.
The Government will positively consider NESC’s recommendations, consulting with the Northern Ireland Executive and UK Government on the identified opportunities to deepen mutually beneficial cooperation on the island of Ireland, underpinned by the Good Friday Agreement.
More information on the NESC work and publications to date on Shared Island can be viewed here.
On 14 April 2021, the Irish Research Council (IRC), in partnership with the Department of the Taoiseach, opened the first call for applications for academic research related to the Government’s Shared Island initiative.
Eleven awards, with a maximum value of €20,000 each, were made under the New Foundations programme, funded by the Shared Island unit of the Department of the Taoiseach.
The projects commenced in December 2021 and findings will continue to be published into early 2023.
On 10 May 2022, a new call opened and eight awards were made again with a maximum value of €20,000 each. The projects commenced in December 2022 and will publish their findings in late 2023.
The approved projects will contribute new knowledge or perspective to inform the Government’s objectives and commitments on a Shared Island and will involve North/South, East/West or relevant international collaboration.
Full details of both the 2021 and 2022 research projects can be found here.
The Shared Island unit has partnered with the Standing Conference on Teacher Education, North and South (SCoTENS), on a call for research to be undertaken over 2021-2023.
The SCoTENS Shared Island research partnership is funding five projects on teacher education, across two areas:
- Enhancing educational attainment: sharing experience and learning on a shared island.
- How we teach: acknowledging, understanding and learning with others and from others on a shared island.
Research will contribute to enhanced understanding and inform professional and policy development considerations on a shared island basis.
The first two projects, tackling educational underachievement, and SHARED were published in October 2022. Three additional projects, which will enhance understanding across communities through education, commenced in April 2022 and will publish reports in late 2023. You can read about these three projects here.
The Shared Island unit commissioned independent scoping research by Professor Deirdre Heenan on Collaborating on Healthcare on an All-Island Basis, a discussion paper contribution for the Shared Island Dialogue on Health, Working together for a healthier island held on 8 July 2021.
The Office of Emergency Planning, in partnership with the Shared Island Unit, opened a call for applications to investigate an 'All-island supply chain risks in the area of food manufacturing and distribution' and 'Public Safety Messaging to Border Communities'. The deadline for submissions will be no later than 12.00 on Friday, 3 February 2023. Click here for more information.
Further work will be commissioned as part of the Shared Island research programme and updates provided here.