The latest update on gov.ie shines a light on an important area of Irish public policy: the lives of children and young people in care, those moving through aftercare, and adults reflecting on their care experience years later. In a new publication notice from the Department of Children, Disability and Equality, the Care Experiences Programme has confirmed a series of research outputs for 2026 aimed at strengthening understanding, evidence and service planning across Ireland.
Published on 23 July 2026, the update shows how gov.ie continues to serve as a central access point for official Irish government publications, policy papers and research findings relevant to families, child protection professionals, researchers and the wider public.
gov.ie update: what the Care Experiences Programme will publish in 2026
The Care Experiences Programme commissions and publishes research focused on the alternative care sector. Its work combines primary research and administrative data analysis to build a fuller picture of outcomes and lived experiences for:
- Children and young people currently in care
- Young adults using aftercare services
- Adults who were in care as children
According to the department, several research outputs are scheduled across 2026.
Reports due in July 2026
Two reports are expected in July:
- A study on the career and education journeys of care-experienced young adults, undertaken by the Centre for Effective Services
- A report on foster carer retention, carried out by Childhood Matters
These themes are especially significant for policymakers working across Education, Social Protection, Health and Children/Disability/Equality, as they touch on long-term opportunity, support systems and placement stability.
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Further research planned later in 2026
The department also said that a longer-term outcomes study is currently under review. This research, led by Trinity College Dublin and the University of Sussex, examines the experiences and outcomes of adults who left the care system 10 to 15 years ago. That report is expected later in 2026.
In addition, the Centre for Effective Services is preparing a literature review on Special (Secure) Care across four jurisdictions outside Ireland. That publication is due in autumn 2026 and may offer useful comparative insights for officials across Justice, Health Service Executive (HSE), Tusla and related oversight bodies.
Earlier gov.ie research remains available
The notice also highlights an existing publication first released in 2023: Children in Care and Young Adults Leaving Care: A Literature Review of Irish Research by Dr Clare Farrell. Available through gov.ie, the review was carried out by the Research and Evaluation Unit of the department.
The review focuses on published Irish empirical research about the care system and aftercare, while also considering consultations with children and young people and selected international evidence.
Its main value lies in bringing together:
- Research on children and young people in care
- Evidence on aftercare experiences
- Thematic analysis of published studies
- An overview of services and available administrative data
This kind of evidence can inform debate not only within the department, but also across the wider public sector, including the CSO, Revenue Commissioners, Workplace Relations Commission (WRC), Department of the Taoiseach and agencies involved in equality, youth and long-term social outcomes.
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Why this gov.ie publication matters
Research of this kind matters because care experience can shape education, employment, wellbeing and life chances well into adulthood. By setting out a clear pipeline of publications, gov.ie and the Department of Children, Disability and Equality are signalling a continued focus on evidence-led policy in an area that requires both sensitivity and long-term planning.
For readers tracking Irish government news, the key takeaway is simple: gov.ie remains the primary source for official updates on care research, and the 2026 publication schedule points to deeper analysis on foster care, education pathways, aftercare and secure care in the months ahead.
Article/Image Courtesy: gov.ie
