Research and Development

Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 17 January 2024

Wednesday, 17 January 2024

Questions (893)

Denis Naughten

Question:

893. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will list the ongoing research commissioned under the remit of her Department through the North-South Ministerial Council, Shared Island Initiative or through other all-island arrangements; if she will outline the research that has been completed; the date of publication of the research since the signing of the Good Friday Agreement; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [56921/23]

Written answers

Minister for Social Protection

To date, my Department has not commissioned any research through the North-South Ministerial Council, Shared Island Initiative or other all-island arrangements.

However, the Department regularly contributes to various all island fora, where the scope is relevant to the remit of this Department.  For example, the Cross Border Partnership for Employment Services (CBPES) continues to work to support work mobility between the border counties of Ireland and Northern Ireland.  The Department regularly attends the Border People Advisory Group meetings, providing technical advice on the interplay of competing social security agreements; Department officials also attend the annual Social Welfare Summer School, which is jointly run by the Department of Social Protection and the Department for Communities in Northern Ireland.

I trust this clarifies matters for the Deputy.