ABSTRACT
Social policy in Ireland – historically drawing from principles of both Catholicism and liberalism – tended to develop incrementally and rather slowly. The dynamic was of change as a pragmatic response to problems or unmet need rather than, for example, change driven by an overarching vision and set of commitments. In the last 20 years, however, the Irish social policy system was significantly reformed. One could say it was modernised during the period associated with the Celtic Tiger (from the 1990s to the mid-2000s) when benefit coverage was extended and made more generous, the complex set of benefits was streamlined, and the network of social services extended. The expansive dynamic came to an abrupt halt, however, during the recession from 2008, with the impact of the conditions imposed by the international organisations as part of the ‘economic bailout’ especially prioritising cuts in benefits and services. The last years have seen new investment, in particular in services for early childhood education and care and reforms countering inactivity and jobless households. It is too soon to tell how much the more recent investment will overcome the cutbacks and disinvestment, but it seems that Ireland is back to a pattern of incremental change.
