The following tables contain a series of tools, structures, and processes that are currently available to policy officials that may be of benefit to you in your work as you navigate through the policy development process.
These resources have been grouped under the three pillars of policy development with an accompanying suggestion about where that resource might be useful. It is important to note when reading the below that the pillar the resource is grouped under, and the phase where it might be useful, are only suggestions.
In practice, many of these resources could be grouped under all three pillars and could be of benefit at multiple phases. This fluidity reflects the point emphasised throughout the handbook; the policy development process is an iterative process and can be non-linear.
Data and evidence
| Name | Phase where it might be useful |
| Strategic Foresight Community of Practice | Phase 2 - Deepen Understanding |
| National Data Infrastructure or Process Champions Group | Phase 2 - Deepen Understanding |
| National Risk Assessment | Phase 1 - Demand for Policy |
| Civil Service Research Network | Phase 2 - Deepen Understanding |
| IGEES analysis library | Phase 2 - Deepen Understanding |
| Formal Statistics Liaison Group | Phase 2 - Deepen Understanding |
| CSO Administrative ‘Data-room’ service based on linked data | Phase 2 - Deepen Understanding |
| Strategic Policy Units | Phase 3 - Design with Best Advice |
| CSO Open Data support services | Phase 2 - Deepen Understanding |
| Irish Government Statistical Service secondment and short-term loan arrangements | Phase 3 - Design with Best Advice |
| Bespoke analysis of CSO statistics to support policy development | Phase 2 - Deepen Understanding |
| Enhanced Data-sharing through Data Governance Board | Phase 2 - Deepen Understanding |
| Equality Data Hub | Phase 2 - Deepen Understanding |
| CSO ‘Pathfinder projects’ based on linked data | Phase 2 - Deepen Understanding |
| Analytics Dashboards (such as Ukraine Situation Report) | Phase 2 - Deepen Understanding |
| Government Surveys, such as Trust in Government, CSEES | Phase 2 - Deepen Understanding |
| Strategic Policy Discussions, Spending Review Conference, and Annual IGEES Conference | Phase 3 - Design with Best Advice |
| Provision of policy analysis training (for example, Cost Benefit Analysis, Counterfactual Impact Evaluation, Statistical analysis using R, or Stata) | Phase 3 - Design with Best Advice |
| Example of Request for Tender for Research Services | Phase 2 - Deepen Understanding |
| Central Statistics Office (CSO) Datasets | Phase 2 - Deepen Understanding |
Feasibility and implementation
| Name | Phase where it might be useful |
| Regulatory Impact Assessment (RIA) | Phase 3 - Design with Best Advice |
| National Mapping Agreement (NMA) | Phase 2 - Deepen Understanding |
| Project Managers’ Handbook | Phase 4 - Decide Policy Proposals |
| Public Service Innovation Network | Phase 3 - Design with Best Advice |
| Design Principles for the Public Service | Phase 3 - Design with Best Advice |
| Project Managers’ Network | Phase 4 - Decide Policy Proposals |
| The Public Spending Code | Phase 3 - Design with Best Advice |
| Spending Review Process | Phase 5 - Deliver Policy |
| Public Procurement Guidelines for Goods and Services | Phase 5 - Deliver Policy |
| Small and Medium Enterprise Test (SME Test) | Phase 3 - Design with Best Advice |
Legitimacy
| Name | Phase where it might be useful |
| National Framework for Children’s and Young People’s Participation in Decision-Making | Phase 1 - Demand for Policy |
| National Participation Office responsible for managing children and youth bodies | Phase 1 - Demand for Policy |
| Guidelines on Public Consultation | Phase 2 - Deepen Understanding |
| GIS Group on Skills, Networking and Capacity-Building | Phase 3 - Design with Best Advice |
| Values and Principles for Collaboration and Partnership Working with the Community and Voluntary Sector | Phase 1 - Demand for Policy |
| CSMB Sponsor Group on Civil Service Values and Leadership | Phase 4 - Decide Policy Proposals |
| Quality Customer Service Initiative (including 12 guiding principles, Guidelines for Customer Action Plans and Charters and QCS Network) | Phase 5 - Deliver Policy |
| Open Government National Action Plan 2023–25 | Phase 1 - Demand for Policy |
| Local Economic and Community Plan (LECP) Guidance | Phase 3 - Design with Best Advice |
| Suicide Prevention Impact Assessment Toolkit | Phase 3 - Design with Best Advice |
| Comhairle na nÓg, the national network of youth councils that represent and empower young people in Ireland | Phase 2 - Deepen Understanding |
| Participation Matters - NDA Guidelines on implementing the obligation to meaningfully engage with disabled people in public decision making | Phase 2 - Deepen Understanding |
| Joint Policing Committees (JPC) / Local Community Safety Pilots | Phase 5 - Deliver Policy |
| Pobal’s Guide for Inclusive Community Engagement in Local Planning and Decision Making | Phase 2 - Deepen Understanding |
| Public Participation Networks (PPNs) | Phase 3 - Design with Best Advice |
| International literature (such as EU Council Recommendations, OECD policy reports, Declarations by UN bodies like UNESCO) | Phase 2 - Deepen Understanding |
| Enterprise Forum | Phase 1 - Demand for Policy |
| Local Community Development Committees (LCDC) | Phase 5 - Deliver Policy |
| Children and Young People’s Services Committees (CYPSC) | Phase 5 - Deliver Policy |
| International supports and advice (such as EU Technical Support In-strument; OECD Country Policy Reviews and Advice) | Phase 3 - Design with Best Advice |
| Example of a Consultation on a Policy Scheme | Phase 2 - Deepen Understanding |
| Strawman document outlining a policy proposal to public | Phase 2 - Deepen Understanding |
| Cabinet Handbook | Phase 4 - Decide Policy Proposals |