Work Programme

Shared Island

NESC is currently undertaking, at the request of the Department of the Taoiseach, a programme of research that is designed to produce a comprehensive report on the Shared Island in 2021. As part of this ongoing work a number of outputs have already been published. Firstly, the National Economic and Social Council (NESC) has published…

Well-Being Framework

The Government is committed to developing a comprehensive well-being framework. The Department of the Taoiseach is leading this work, which is jointly sponsored by the Departments of Finance and Public Expenditure and Reform and supported by a wider Inter-departmental Working Group. The National Economic and Social Council was asked to provide a vehicle for consultation…

Land Use, Land Value and Urban Development

Prior to the Covid-19 crisis Ireland faced significant challenges in the housing sector including insufficient housing output, acute affordability pressures in the private rental sector and high unmet need for social housing. It is over two years since the Council set out its analysis of Ireland’s system of urban development, land management and housing provision.…

Welfare and Employment

There have been profound societal changes since the establishment of the social welfare system in Ireland, and changes to the social welfare system, by and large, reflect these changes. This project considers anticipated future changes and discusses possibilities for the future direction of the Irish social welfare system. The project makes reference to previous work…

Sustainable Development and Climate Action

A Statement from the Council Grounding the Recovery in Sustainable Development outlines the importance of grounding the recovery in sustainable development. This can and should be considered alongside the Council’s other work on economic and social issues and that of the Secretariat on the Covid-19 crisis. It argues that internationally, and in Ireland, there is…

Good Jobs and Transition

The Council has produced a significant report on the impact on employment of the transition associated with climate change and digital automation. One finding was the importance of quality work and good jobs as critical in tackling vulnerability for sectors, firms, and workers. A subsequent piece of NESC research showed how Covid-19 brought new vulnerabilities to light and re-emphasised some…

Digital Inclusion

Society is changing profoundly as a result of Covid-19, and information and communications technology (ICT) is playing a critical role. ICT is helping our society function effectively with less proximate contact, whether it is in terms of remote working, learning or recreational activity. This has brought to the fore some long-standing issues in relation to…