"Spend now or pay later?" Preventive spending promises better outcomes and lower costs in the future, but today's budgets are under pressure. Our latest blog explores the prevention dilemma facing policymakers. www.assemblyresearchmatters.org/2026/08/05/t...

The Prevention Dilemma: Spend today or pay tomorrow? - Research Matters

Imagine you are responsible for allocating an additional £1 million to improve health and wellbeing in Northern Ireland. Should it fund smoking cessation services, falls prevention programmes for olde...

assemblyresearchmatters.org

Can cultural festivals boost local economies, strengthen communities and support language revitalisation? Our latest blog explores the socio-economic impact of the Fleadh, the Mòd and the Eisteddfod. Read more: www.assemblyresearchmatters.org/2026/07/23/t...

The Fleadh, the Mòd and the Eisteddfod: Socio-economic considerations for national cultural festivals - Research Matters

Northern Ireland: Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann The Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann is the largest global festival of Irish traditional music, language, and culture, organised by the non-profit cultural organis...

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Deposited Paper: Information provided by the First and deputy First Minister in response to Timothy Gaston MLA detailing any grants, funding awards or service contracts awarded by their Department, its agencies and arm’s-length bodies since 1 January 2020 (1/3)

Deposited Paper: Information provided by the Minister for Communities in response to @sineadforfoyle21.bsky.social MLA detailing (i) how the Department will contribute to the dismantling of segregation in housing; and (1/2)

What is the real cost of waiting? Beyond longer queues, healthcare backlogs can deepen health inequalities, delay treatment and impact quality of life across Northern Ireland. #ResearchMatters #HealthInequalities #NIHealth Read more in our latest blog: www.assemblyresearchmatters.org/2026/07/23/t...

The hidden costs of waiting: How backlogs shape health, inequality and care in Northern Ireland - Research Matters

Waiting lists are a familiar feature of health system debate in Northern Ireland. They are usually discussed in terms of numbers waiting and length of delay. These measures matter, but they are incomp...

assemblyresearchmatters.org

What is the real cost of waiting? Beyond longer queues, healthcare backlogs can deepen health inequalities, delay treatment and impact quality of life across Northern Ireland. #ResearchMatters #HealthInequalities #NIHealth Read more in our latest blog: www.assemblyresearchmatters.org/2026/07/23/t...

The hidden costs of waiting: How backlogs shape health, inequality and care in Northern Ireland - Research Matters

Waiting lists are a familiar feature of health system debate in Northern Ireland. They are usually discussed in terms of numbers waiting and length of delay. These measures matter, but they are incomp...

assemblyresearchmatters.org

Can cultural festivals boost local economies, strengthen communities and support language revitalisation? Our latest blog explores the socio-economic impact of the Fleadh, the Mòd and the Eisteddfod. Read more: www.assemblyresearchmatters.org/2026/07/23/t...

The Fleadh, the Mòd and the Eisteddfod: Socio-economic considerations for national cultural festivals - Research Matters

Northern Ireland: Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann The Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann is the largest global festival of Irish traditional music, language, and culture, organised by the non-profit cultural organis...

assemblyresearchmatters.org

Deposited Paper: Information provided by the Minister for Communities in response to Cathy Mason MLA detailing the number of social and affordable homes in South Down that have (i) been built; (ii) commenced construction; (iii) entered the planning process; and (1/2)

Deposited Paper: Information provided by the Minister for Communities in response to Michelle McIlveen MLA detailing the number of social houses lost as a result of (i) dereliction; (ii) demolition; & (iii) right to buy, in the last five years by constituency. www.niassembly.gov.uk/globalassets...

Deposited Paper: Information provided by the Minister for Communities in response to Diane Forsythe MLA in which she asked the Minister to detail his Department’s level of investment in tennis, over the last five years. www.niassembly.gov.uk/globalassets...

Deposited Paper: Information provided by the Minister for Communities in response to Mark Durkan MLA detailing (i) any social media accounts operated by (a) his Department; and (1/2)

Research Paper: Access to the Bar. This briefing paper was commissioned provides an overview of issues relevant to entry and training to the barrister profession, including comparisons across England and Wales, Scotland and the Republic of Ireland. www.niassembly.gov.uk/globalassets...

Lots of conversation around road safety and speeding today. We have a tool that studies and provides road traffic collisions in Northern Ireland. www.assemblyresearchmatters.org/2026/04/30/i...

Introducing a new tool to study road traffic collisions in Northern Ireland - Research Matters

Road safety is an area of critical importance to policy makers. In Northern Ireland, road traffic collisions remain a leading cause of preventable death and serious injury, placing lasting emotional, ...

assemblyresearchmatters.org

Deposited Paper: Information provided by the Minister for Communities in response to Mark Durkan MLA in detailing the number of applicants currently on the social housing transfer list who have been waiting for (i) more than one year; (1/2)

Research Paper: VAWG Inquiry Scoping. This scoping paper is intended to inform the Committee for the Executive Office’s considerations on potential key lines of inquiry on Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG). (1/2) www.niassembly.gov.uk/globalassets...

All of the videos from our most recent #KESS2026 seminar series and now available! kess.org.uk/series-8/#Se...

We've updated our Brexit Reading List: Brexit Outcomes and Northern Ireland. The publication of this updated edition coincides with a period of continued reflection and change. June 2026 marks ten years since the 2016 referendum on EU membership. www.niassembly.gov.uk/globalassets...

Research Paper: Executive Programme Funds. This briefing note details the effectiveness of previous Executive Programme Funds relating to their impact on Children and Young People and improving Cross-Departmental working and stakeholder engagement. www.niassembly.gov.uk/globalassets...

Deposited Papers: Information provided by the Minister for Communities in response to Gareth Wilson MLA detailing the (i) average; and (ii) longest time spent on social housing waiting lists by a Newry & Armagh Constituency resident in the last five years. www.niassembly.gov.uk/globalassets...

Deposited Paper: Information provided by the Minister for Communities in response to John Stewart MLA detailing (i) the number of applicants currently on the social housing waiting list in East Antrim, broken down by (a) district; and (b) housing stress category; (1/3)

Deposited Paper: Information provided by the Minister for Communities in response to Michelle McIlveenMLA detailing (i) steps being taken by social housing landlords in how they respond to complaints about damp and mould; and (1/2)

The policy briefings and presentations from the final #KESS2026 seminar of this series are now available #highereducation - kess.org.uk/marginalised... Video content will be available soon!

Deposited Paper: Information provided by the Minister for Communities in response to Cara Hunter MLA to detail the number of (i) artists' studios; (ii) music rehearsal spaces; and (1/2)

Deposited Paper: Information provided by the Minister for Communities in response to @connieegan.bsky.social MLA detailing any steps his Department is taking in response to the publication of the Katie Simpson Review. www.niassembly.gov.uk/globalassets...

Deposited Paper: Information provided by the Minister for Communities in response to Mark Durkan MLA detailing the total number of (i) authorised and (ii) unauthorised, houses in multiple occupancy identified in each local council area over the last three years. www.niassembly.gov.uk/globalassets...

We have just published a new blog article: Homelessness in Northern Ireland. The article provides a brief profile of the homeless population. It also contains definition of what constitutes statutory homelessness and quantifies the scale of the issue. www.assemblyresearchmatters.org/2026/06/23/h...

Homelessness in Northern Ireland - Research Matters

Homelessness is a significant problem in Northern Ireland, and is one of nine strategic priorities in the current Programme for Government. This article provides a brief profile of the homeless popula...

assemblyresearchmatters.org

Deposited Paper: Information provided by the Minister for Communities in response to Cathy Mason MLA detailing the amount invested in South Down in (i) 2022-23; (ii) 2023-24; (iii) 2024-25; and (iv) 2025-26, financial years; and (v) in total since 2022. www.niassembly.gov.uk/globalassets...

Deposited Paper: Information provided by the Minister for Communities in response to Michelle McIlveen MLA detailing the number of social houses in each district which have had to be fumigated as a result of flea infestations, in each of the last three years. www.niassembly.gov.uk/globalassets...

Deposited Paper: Information provided by the Minister for Communities in response to @paulaballiance.bsky.social MLA detailing any steps his Department is taking to safeguard children and young people participating in sports settings. www.niassembly.gov.uk/globalassets...

Deposited Paper: Information provided by the Minister for Communities in response to @caralnichuilinmla.bsky.social detailing the vesting order for the Upper Long Streets in the New Lodge area of North Belfast. www.niassembly.gov.uk/globalassets...