Better Public Services - New eLearning Module: The Policy Handbook

New eLearning Module: The Policy Handbook: A ‘Real World’ Guide to Policy Development

The “Policy Handbook – A ‘real world’ guide to policy development” was developed by the Civil Service Management Board (CSMB) and published in 2025. It was designed to offer practical support to civil servants at all stages of policy development. The Handbook represents a significant milestone in Ireland’s efforts to develop a model of the policy process which civil servants can use and benefit from in the course of their work. It is divided into two sections, the first outlining the three-pillar framework and the second demonstrating the policy development process.

The three pillars under the framework are:

• Pillar 1 - ‘Data & Evidence’ which emphasises the importance of extracting high-quality evidence from data and using it as the basis for good policy proposals and solutions;
• Pillar 2 - ‘Feasibility & Implementation’ which focusses on the actions needed to successfully deliver policy goals, from resource allocation to delivery; and
• Pillar 3 - ‘Legitimacy’ which highlights the importance of public and political understanding and support of the policy issue and the proposed solution.

The second section of the Handbook outlines the policy development process, broken down under five phases called the 5Ds. The Handbook can be found on gov.ie through the link here.

The Department of the Taoiseach and the IPA have developed an eLearning module as a learning support tool to accompany the Policy Handbook.

It is a practical, self-directed learning module that seeks to build the confidence and capability of new and existing civil servants working on policy development and implementation.

This 45-minute module provides an overview of the Policy Handbook and the “ideal” policy development cycle. It outlines how the framework can be applied at different points of the cycle, including the use of the three pillars as a check list throughout the five phases.

Enrol now via OneLearning using the link here.

Links

· Policy Handbook: https://www.gov.ie/en/department-of-the-taoiseach/campaigns/policy-handbook-a-real-world-guide-to-policy-development/

eLearning Module on Data & Evidence: https://onelearning.gov.ie/ilp/pages/coursedescription.jsf?courseId=12210009&catalogId=1700