- Read more: Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder: Current barriers to diagnosis and treatment
Introduction Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder (PMDD) is a distinct mood disorder associated with symptoms such as depressed mood, irritability, anxiety, sleep disturbance, difficulty concentrating and suicidal thoughts in the two weeks before a menstrual period (APA 2013; Prasad 2021). PMDD is severe enough to affect a person’s functioning, relationships, and quality of life (APA 2013). It…
- Read more: How to address the costs of disability in Ireland?
People with disabilities in Ireland have additional costs due to disability including care, equipment, transport, medicines, and additional living expenses. This paper analyses the pathways that Ireland might take to address these costs, using international examples.
- Read more: Addressing the mental health needs of people living with diabetes in Ireland
This policy brief argues that mental health is a relevant topic of interest when considering practice in diabetes healthcare. This policy brief also provides practical recommendations based on official healthcare guidelines and research findings.
- Read more: A Question of Choice? The Provision of Care for Adults with Intellectual Disabilities
Life expectancy of people with intellectual disabilities (ID) has steadily improved, and with this progression in longevity, there is an increased need for health and social resources. This presents a specific challenge for policymakers seeking to provide life-long care for adults with ID. Researchers at Trinity College Dublin (TCD) have documented the changing health, social,…
- Read more: How Universities in Ireland Can Enhance Student Attendance, Attainment, and Belonging
This paper examines why belonging matters in a university context, outlines research findings analysing staff views on improving students’ belonging, and concludes with key policy recommendations.
- Read more: Gender Pay Gap Report 2025
The Department of Health has published its Gender Pay Gap Report 2025. This report presents the Employment profile and the Gender Pay Gap profile for the reporting period. The Department of Health has a mean gender pay gap of 0.86% in favour of men and a median pay gap of 2.56% in favour of men.…
- Read more: Public Consultation and Policymaking in Ireland: The Failure of the Green Paper On Disability Reform as a Case Study
Public consultation is a cornerstone of democratic policymaking, offering citizens an opportunity to shape decisions that affect their lives. This paper examines the evolution of public consultation in Ireland and its role in fostering transparency and inclusion, with a particular focus on the Department of Social Protection’s 2023 Green Paper on Disability Reform. The paper…
- Read more: A National Human Biomonitoring for Ireland (HBM4IRE) programme feasibility study with ambitions for investigating chemical exposures among the population
Human biomonitoring is described as the ‘gold standard’ for chemical risk assessment as it can measure the systemic availability of human exposures to chemicals from all exposure sources and routes by analysing biological samples. This policy brief outlines the key findings and recommendations from the EPA-funded Human Biomonitoring for Ireland (HBM4IRE) project that examined the…
- Read more: Ireland’s Demographic Transition: A Call to Action
Ireland’s greatest success story is that many more people are living into older age. By 2057, one in every three people living in Ireland will be aged 60 or older, including one in nine who will be aged 80 or older. Ireland – by which I mean the government, economy and wider society – is…
- Read more: Healthcare Hierarchy in Ireland
This paper examines the impact of hierarchy and the two tier system of healthcare in Ireland on the delivery of care. It highlights wait times, delays in providing care, and targets for intervention.
