Research and Data

LGBTI+-related research and data management were referenced in five submissions (BelongTo; GHN; INTO LGBT+ TG; UNESCO Chair ITT; and AI). BelongTo recommended the establishment of a National LGBTI+ Youth Strategy oversight committee to support monitoring and evaluation, in order to document evidence and impacts according to agreed outcome indicators. They recommended that this evidence is included in an annual impact report.

According to GHN, the development of a research programme for LGBTI+ communities would be “hugely beneficial to future strategizing”. This programme could include national surveys that mirror those conducted annually or bi-annually in other jurisdictions, to “track changes in status and progress towards addressing needs”. They acknowledged that the development of such a programme would “likely take considerable time” and “political commitment”. The INTO LGBT+ TG also recommended drawing on international research examples to asses “what interventions are most likely to result in LGBTI+ inclusive education and improvements for LGBTI+ pupils, families and young people”. They also recommended commissioning an Irish study based on an international assessment, which would support the creation of “a policy for LGBTI+ inclusive education”.

According to AI, the centrality of equality to the DECDIY’s remit means that “data collection and research will be important”. In terms of data, AI recommended that disaggregated data is collected on “diagnoses of variations of sex characteristics”.