Families who have welcomed a new baby this year across Ireland have been invited to participate in a new research study which will monitor their experiences of growing up in the country. The comprehensive national survey will extend invites to around 15,000 to 16,000 families chosen randomly throughout the country, all of whom have a baby of nine months.
The project, Growing Up In Ireland, is being executed by the Central Statistics Office (CSO) marking the first survey of its kind in 16 years. The baby cohort from this year will link up with the existing two groups which were initiated in 1998 and 2008.
Historically, the surveys were conducted by the Economic, Social and Research Institute (ESRI). The passage study is designed to record the development of the child over time. The data collected is aimed at aiding in policy-making decisions to better the provision of family services.
The CSO mentioned notable social, economic, and policy alterations in Ireland since the last cohort was established in 2008. Jennifer Banim, CSO’s director-general, mentioned that the survey offers an invaluable tool to the CSO for gauging parents and children’s experiences in Ireland and studying societal shifts’ effect. She highlighted novel aspects such as outdoor playtime for children, the adoption of mobile phones and social media by families and change in mental health dynamics.
The Taoiseach acknowledged the studies’ immense contribution towards policy formulation. In agreement, Simon Harris said, “having fresh data on the current newborns will enable the implementation of further improvements”. He added that it would assist in tracking and comparison with previous cohorts to identify what is effective and what necessitates change.