A groundbreaking new University of Limerick research centre is seeking to improve the delivery of public services that will ‘benefit society as a whole’.
The Centre for Implementation Research (CIRcUL) is the first academically led Implementation Research centre in Ireland.
The multidisciplinary research hub, which was launched at UL by Mayor of Limerick John Moran, is dedicated to advancing the development of evidence-informed research, policies, programmes, and professional practices to improve the delivery of public services.
The Centre has received core funding from the Higher Education Authority for a period of three years to conduct implementation research science projects.
It will focus on building national and international skills and expertise in implementation science, conducting policy-focused research projects, delivering evidence-informed implementation solutions for complex societal issues, developing theories, methods, and tools in implementation science, and contributing to academic literature with high-quality research publications.
UL Vice President Research and Innovation Professor Kevin Ryan said: “Developing and enhancing the capacities of our research centres are key elements in achieving the University’s research strategy and priorities.
“By championing and supporting the pursuit of research excellence and embracing the spirit of interdisciplinarity, openness and discovery, we are contributing to addressing many of the global challenges we are facing.
“The work being carried out by the researchers in CIRcUL will have an important impact on how public services are delivered in Ireland, directly benefitting people in our society.”
Speaking at the launch event, Mayor John Moran noted that there was “high potential to create groundbreaking synergies within the City and County Council and the Centre” for the benefit of the population, especially in “addressing housing and homelessness issues”, major societal concerns that are at the core of his Mayoral Programme.
Centre director Dr Laura Keyes said: “The launch of CIRcUL marks a significant milestone in our efforts to bridge the gap between research and effective practice in the real world. Our Centre is committed to developing innovative strategies and solutions that will enhance the implementation of evidence-informed practices in public services, ultimately benefiting society as a whole.”
Professor Alice Coffey, from UL’s School of Nursing and Midwifery, who was pivotal in successfully establishing the Centre at the University, in conjunction with Professor Seán Redmond from the School of Law, was acknowledged for her dedication to health research at the launch event.
Professor Coffey said: “I am so proud of the pathway that led to the creation of the Centre. This was only possible thanks to the extraordinary collegiality of an interdisciplinary team, namely the former Health Implementation Science and Technology Research Cluster and the Research Evidence into Policy Programmes and Practice Unit, led by Professor Seán Redmond.”
A key project for the Centre this year is to evaluate the four Local Area Child Poverty Action Plan pilot areas. The pilots aim to achieve better service integration and improve access to available services for disadvantaged children, young people and their families. The work is supported by the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration Youth’s What Works initiative, which receives its funding from the Dormant Accounts Fund, managed by the Department of Rural and Community Development.
A second key project is in collaboration with Respond, a leading Approved Housing Body and service provider, to implement their approach to supporting communities alongside the social and cost rental housing they provide.
Declan Dunne, CEO of Respond, said: “We are delighted to be partnering with CIRcUL on this work. It will provide essential learning for us on what works, why it works, how we can improve and critically how we can replicate our successes making a real difference to the lives of people we work in our communities and who live in the homes we provide. A lack of understanding around how policy is implemented often creates gaps and can undermine the success of otherwise great initiatives. The launch of CIRcUL is a critical step towards addressing this challenge, and I look forward to seeing the centre drive real, lasting impact in the years ahead.”
Other projects that CIRcUL will undertake this year include working with Limerick City and County Council on homelessness and anti-social behaviour challenges, with the Health Service Executive on implementation of initiatives under SláinteCare and with the Maximising Breastfeeding Supports national project which is being led by University College Cork.
