Applied Social Studies - Reports

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Access to justice for people with disabilities as victims of crime in Ireland
(National Disability Authority, 2012-02) Edwards, Claire; Harold, Gillian; Kilcommins, Shane
International literature recognises that people with disabilities are at greater risk of crime than their able-bodied counterparts, but that crime against people with disabilities is significantly under-reported and often fails to proceed to prosecution. However, little is known in the Irish context about how the criminal justice system responds to the needs of people with disabilities as victims of crime. This study aims to: Explore the barriers that people with disabilities who report a crime face in accessing the criminal justice system in Ireland and internationally; Compare the legislative tools and frameworks across different jurisdictions which seek to protect the rights of people with disabilities who report crime and abuse; Analyse the specific policies and practices that agencies of the criminal justice system have in place to facilitate people with disabilities’ access to justice; Explore national and international innovations which may contribute to strengthening the way in which the Irish criminal justice system responds to the needs of people with disabilities. The study addresses these aims through an international literature review and semi-structured interviews conducted with key agencies in the Irish criminal justice system.
Born and raised into homelessness, overcrowding and substandard housing: Experiences of families engaged with the Young Knocknaheeny Home Visiting Programme
(Young Knocknaheeny ABC, 2019) Martin, Shirley; Curtin, Margaret
This report examines the experiences of a number of families engaged with the Young Knocknaheeny Area Based Childhood Programme (YK). It demonstrates the lived reality of homelessness, housing insecurity and sub-standard home environments as experienced by some of the families participating in YK’s pre-birth to three Infant Mental Health (IMH) Home-visiting Programme. The report offers insight into homelessness, overcrowding and sub-standard housing as experienced by babies, young children and their parents.
Checklist: planning ahead for potential international litigation
(IDEA Project, University College Cork, 2018-05) O'Mahony, Conor; O'Callaghan, Elaine; Burns, Kenneth; European Commission
Child participation advocacy tool
(IDEA Project University College Cork, 2018-09) O'Callaghan, Elaine; O'Mahony, Conor; Burns, Kenneth; European Commission
This tool is a quick reference guide for practitioners working in child protection in Ireland seeking to use international law in advocating for children’s rights in domestic courts. More specifically, it provides an overview of children’s rights sources which can be drawn upon to argue for the participation of children in care in court proceedings. Utilising these sources of law can also bolster submissions in court, thereby improving decisions for children.
Children and young people's experiences of participation in decision-making at home, in schools and in their communities
(Department of Children and Youth Affairs, 2015-06) Horgan, Deirdre; Forde, Catherine; Parkes, Aisling; Martin, Shirley; Irish Research Council
The aim of this study is to explore the extent to which children and young people, aged 7-17 and living in contemporary urban and rural Ireland, are able to participate and influence matters affecting them in their homes, schools and communities. The investigative focus of the study is shaped by Lundy’s (2007) conceptualisation of Article 12 of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, which focuses on space, voice, audience and influence. With this in mind, the objectives of this research are: to consider the extent to which children and young people have a voice and influence in matters affecting them at home, in their school and in the community where they live; to identify the facilitators and barriers to giving children and young people a voice and influence in matters affecting them in each of these settings; to examine the type of approaches used in each setting and identify examples of good practice; to distil key messages for consideration by parents and families, teachers, schools and communities in Ireland.
Children's voices in housing estate regeneration
(Government Publications, Dublin, 2015) O'Connell, Cathal; O'Sullivan, Siobhán; Byrne, Lorcan; Irish Research Council; Department of Children and Youth Affairs; Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government, Ireland; University College Cork
Background: The theme of this research is children’s participation in housing estate regeneration. Estate regeneration can affect children’s lives in terms of their living conditions and environmental surroundings, and their sense of safety, belonging, place, identity and community. However, children’s voices are seldom heard in regeneration programmes. This research represents a first step in hearing the voices of children and young people and presents their views in relation to a major regeneration programme currently underway in the Knocknaheeny Housing Estate on the Northside of Cork City. Methods: The research methodology used was a rights-based approach entailing a range of qualitative and creative methods, including focus group activities and discussions, rap, photography and art. These methods ascertained children and young people’s views and experiences on what they like and do not like about their area, what they think is good and bad, and what they think should be changed. Ten focus groups involving 78 children and young people were held over the spring and summer of 2013. Key findings: Children and young people would like regeneration to achieve renewal of their area, a safer neighbourhood, a cleaner environment, a better reputation for the estate, and improved life chances and opportunities by: Enhancing community and personal safety through more effective community policing and housing management, addressing problems such as: anti-social behaviour and disruptive tenants; public drinking; drug dealing; violence and intimidation. Improving existing amenities and the local environment through: new and better quality houses; providing effective refuse collection and litter removal; maintaining green areas and open spaces; improving recreation, sports and leisure amenities; considering the impact on young people when lanes are closed in response to residents’ petitions; managing through-traffic and road safety; providing new amenities to reflect their current interests; improving bus services to the area and connectivity with the wider city. Providing educational and employment opportunities through: training, apprenticeships and employment in the regeneration programme; promoting commercial and retail investment in the local economy. They also highlight some of the disruptive impacts of regeneration in terms of: losing their homes due to demolition; re-location of families and friends to addresses outside of the estate; the associated impact on their social networks, friendships and family connections. All of the participants want to be involved in the decision-making around regeneration. The older groups, however, are more cynical about having an influence and are critical of the omission of children and young people’s voices. Conclusions and Recommendations: The research highlights the importance of actively listening to the voices of children and young people and enabling their capacity as agents to influence change. There are three main sets of recommendations arising from this research relating to: regeneration guidelines; estate management; capacity-building.
Circle-time, selfies, friends and food: Researching children's voices in early years settings in the Young Knocknaheeny ABC Programme
(Young Knocknaheeny ABC, 2019-09) Martin, Shirley; TUSLA Child and Family Agency, Ireland; Department for Children and Youth Affairs, Ireland
This participatory research project aims to include the voices of young children involved with the Young Knocknaheeny Area Based Childhood Programme (YK). YK is a community-based prevention and early intervention programme which aims to measurably improve the lives of children and their caregivers living in the north Cork city areas of Knocknaheeny, Farranree, Churchfield, Gurranabraher, and residents of local regeneration areas also. Adopting a whole-community approach, YK aims to give every child the best possible start in life by: respectfully enhancing the skills and early childhood development knowledge of all parents, practitioners and services in the area; strengthening and enhancing all relationships and environments that are important to every child’s early development; and, embedding systems and community change to support early childhood development and address childhood poverty. YK is delivered through inter-agency and partnership working and uses early intervention and evidence-based practices that are holistic in their approach to child development. YK uses a progressive, universal approach to intercept the cycle of poverty, and in so, to bring about lasting social change. This research project will support YK’s ongoing process and outcome evaluations and it will build on the existing data generated by the programme. In particular, it will contribute to the programme’s Early Childhood Care and Education strategy, from which 700 children have benefitted to date, and the ongoing quality improvement measures implemented in this sector. This report will explore the use of visual participatory research methods with young children. These methods have been utilised to add young children’s voices to research on the impact of the quality improvement strategy implemented in seven early years’ (EY) settings involved in an early intervention project as part of YK.
Communicating with children in court: a useful guide in child protection
(IDEA Project, University College Cork, 2019-03) Burns, Kenneth; O'Mahony, Conor; McAuley, Carley; Ó Súilleabháin, Fiachra; O'Callaghan, Elaine; European Commission
If it is stressful for adults to attend court, it is doubly so for children and young people. Courts can be intimidating places and child protection cases are highly-sensitive and emotive. It can be hard to understand the language used by professionals; tensions can be high; there is a lot at stake; the physical design of court buildings can be intimidating; and professionalsâ roles can be unclear to children and parents. Professionals working in criminal and family courts often say that they feel ill-prepared to communicate with children and young people. This tool provides practical suggestions and guidance to support your practice in communicating with children in court.
Community based research: an introductory guide for higher education staff
(Campus Engage/Irish Universities Association, 2014-04) O'Mahony, Catherine; Burns, Kenneth; McDonnell, Claire; Higher Education Authority
Community parks and playgrounds: Intergenerational participation through Universal Design
(Centre for Excellence in Universal Design, 2019) Lynch, Helen; Moore, Alice; Edwards, Claire; Horgan, Linda; National Disability Authority, Ireland
Accessible and inclusive community environments are fundamental for enabling social inclusion. As a set of design principles, Universal Design (UD) offers the potential to create inclusive environments that are accessible to as many people as possible. Yet to date, community environments such as parks and playgrounds have received little attention in relation to UD, to designing for diverse groups of users, including children with and without disabilities, and intergenerational users. This report contains an analysis of play value, UD and usability of parks and playgrounds in one local council area (Cork City Council). The aims of the research were:•To explore what is known from an international perspective on UD as a method which delivers inclusivity, in relation to parks and playgrounds, play and participation. •To gain diverse users’ perspectives of children with and without disabilities and their families/carers, of their experiences of accessing and engaging in play in public parks and playgrounds. •To identify recommendations for best practice in providing for families in public parks and playgrounds, as a means of progressing lifetime communities from a UD approach.
Community-based learning and research agreements: an introductory guide for higher education teaching staff
(Campus Engage/Irish Universities Association, 2016-02) Burns, Kenneth; Randles, Edel; Higher Education Authority
Contact with children in care: case law of the European Court of Human Rights
(IDEA Project, University College Cork, 2018-09) O'Callaghan, Elaine; O'Mahony, Conor; Burns, Kenneth; European Commission
This document provides summaries of judgments delivered by the European Court of Human Rights concerning the right to contact with children in care. It aims to assist child protection practitioners to utilise this case law in advocating for this right in domestic courts. The judgments focus on Article 8 of the European Convention on Human Rights.
Cork Learning Neighbourhoods
(University College Cork, Centre for Adult Continuing Education, 2017) O'Sullivan, Siobhán; Kenny, Lorna
Double deficit: Older and ageing persons in the Irish private rental sector. A Threshold and Alone Report
(ALONE and Threshold, 2023-05) Haran, Niall; Butler, Paul; Finnerty, Joe; Government of Ireland
This document is the report of a study into the housing experiences and pathways of older and ageing people renting in Ireland’s private rental sector (PRS). The study set out to capture the needs, aspirations, pathways and experiences of older and ageing people in the PRS and, in particular, to measure the impact of renting on the wellbeing of older tenants. It also sought to offer an assessment on the appropriateness of the PRS as a tenure option for those aged in excess of 55 years. In addition, an objective of the research was to identify recommendations for policy and legislation relevant to the sustainable and secure accommodation of older people.
Equal citizenship for a new society? An analysis of training and employment opportunities for republican ex-prisoners in Belfast
(Coiste na nIarChimí, 2001-01) Ó hAdhmaill, Féilim
Previous research evidence appears to suggest that while they suffer from similiar socio-economic problems to the wider nationalist community, the problems for republican ex-prisoners seem to be on a greater scale. The primary objective of this research was to investigate the current obstacles facing republication ex-prisoners in training and employment and to make proposals for change.
An evaluation of the operation and impact of The Ark Children's Council [Executive Summary]
(The Ark, Dublin, 2019) Horgan, Deirdre; Martin, Shirley; Cummins-McNamara, Annie; Department of Children and Youth Affairs
In 2018, with the support of a grant from The Department of Children and Youth Affairs, The Ark commissioned child participation experts, Dr. Deirdre Horgan and Dr. Shirley Martin and Dr Annie Cummins-McNamara (University College Cork) to evaluate the operation and impact of the Children’s Council. The aim of this research was twofold. We were keen to find better methods of incorporating the Children’s Council into the overall governance structure of the organisation. Secondly, we wanted to share our challenges and learning with others who are developing their own child consultation practices. It is our hope that this research will be of benefit to our colleagues in the arts and in education and that it can contribute to a wider body of work in recognising children’s right to be heard.
The experience of practice teaching in Ireland, September 2022 - May 2023.
(University College Cork, 2023) Murphy, Niamh; Rose, Joanne; Feeney, Brenda; Melaugh, Brian; Kelly, Eleanor; O'Connor, Erna; Byrne-Cummins, Jean; Dorney, Lyn; Slavin, Paula; Whiting, Sinead; Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration, and Youth, Ireland
Social work practice is a core feature of social work education, providing formative learning opportunities for students (Cleak et al, 2022). The ‘universally acknowledged’ central role of social work practice in the education of future social workers cannot be overstated (Domakin, 2015, p. 399; Roulston et al., 2023). Those tasked with supervising this crucial element of social work education – social work practice teachers – have a fundamental role in the development of competent and ethical social work practitioners who meet the standards of proficiency required for CORU registration. The number of social work graduates is currently below that required to fill the increasing number of social work roles across the country (TUSLA, 2021a). Overall, there is a serious shortage of social workers in the Irish context and those working within this profession find that they have very heavy caseloads, often leading to burnout and high turnover (O'Meara and Kelleher, 2022). Consequently, the sourcing of social work placements is an increasingly difficult task. This research set out to document the experiences of social work practice teachers in Ireland at this time. This was accomplished through a national survey with practice teachers working with the six universities offering social work education: Atlantic Technological University, Maynooth University; Trinity College Dublin, University College Cork, University College Dublin and University of Galway. Focusing on the academic year Sept 2022 – May 2023, the report discusses the Irish social work placement and practice teaching context in more detail, outlining the scope and criteria for practice teaching, as well as the practice teaching experience and challenges within the role. Subsequently, the methodology will be discussed. The chapter following that will present the findings of the survey and the final chapter will involve a discussion of the findings, conclusions and recommendations.
Findings from a needs assessment conducted with street sex workers in the London borough of Newham between February and April 2013
(Homerton University Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, 2013-05-17) MacQuarie, Julius-Cezar; Perry, Georgina
Between February and April 2013, Open Doors (clinical, case management and outreach service for sex workers in East London) undertook a commission from the Newham Crime and Disorder Reduction Partnership to conduct an assessment into the needs of Street Sex Workers in the borough (Perry, 2013). The initiative was commissioned in order to understand the scope and types of issues facing at-street women sex workers (and their male partners) in Newham borough of London. The documentation and analysis of outcomes from case management interventions served to provide the stakeholders with partnership pathways and protocols negotiated with key service providers in the Newham borough. A mixed method approach was used to collect qualitative and quantitative information. By building on quantitative findings with rich narratives, the assessment elicits a nuanced understanding of the diversity of needs within the Street Sex Work population in Newham.
'Going the Distance': An Evaluation of Cloyne Diocesan Youth Services Mobile Garda Youth Diversion Project
(Cloyne Diocesan Youth Services, Ltd., 2020-03) Leahy, Pat; Buckley, Margaret
Cloyne Diocesan Youth Services (CDYS) are a regional youth organisation and a member region of Youth Work Ireland (YWI) based in County Cork. CDYS provide a range of service to young people including youth clubs, targeted youth projects and Local Training Initiatives. CDYS have successfully operated Garda Youth Diversion Projects in Cobh (established 2002) and Mallow (established 2007) for a number of years. In so doing they have built a solid base of professional expertise and established excellent linkages with the Juvenile Liaison Officers (JLO) from An Garda Síochána and relevant agencies such as the schools. In 2017, CDYS with the support of An Garda Síochána applied to the Irish Youth Justice Service (IYJS) to provide a ‘Mobile Garda Youth Diversion Project’ (MGYDP) in County Cork to cater for the hitherto unmet needs of the young people in Cork North Garda Division (Northern and Eastern areas) by providing intense support and intervention to high risk young people (CDYS, 2017). At the time it was (conservatively) estimated that CDYS could not work with 50 to 60 young people who would benefit from engagement with a diversion project. The mobile initiative would rectify this situation. This application was successful, and the project commenced operations in September 2017. In July 2019 this research study was contracted to evaluate the project’s performance to date.
Grease, petrol, biscuits and bikes - A report on the Springboard Youth Motorcycle Project: profile, evaluation, and future development
(Cumann Spraoi Ltd, 2017) Leahy, Pat; Pat Leahy
A report on the effectiveness of a motorcycle project on at risk of early school leaving young people in a disadvantaged area of Cork City.

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