Citizens Information Board Data and Research team host social policy conference 'Insights: From practice to policy: Using data to influence change'
The Citizens Information Board (CIB) Data and Research team organised a social policy conference 'Insights: From practice to policy: Using data to influence change' in Dublin on 4 November 2026.
The conference for CIB's funded services provided a forum to share data and evidence of frontline experiences, discuss key social policy issues, and strengthen the connection between policy development and service delivery. There was representation from across the Citizens Information Service, Citizens Information Phone Service, Money Advice and Budgeting Service (MABS), National Traveller MABS and the National Advocacy Service for People with Disabilities. The conference demonstrated CIB's commitment to evidence-informed social policy.
The Citizens Information Board would like to thank our guest speakers for their insights and expertise:
- Dr Nat O'Connor, Assistant Professor, in the School of Social Policy, Social Work and Social Justice at UCD
- Dr Niamh Garvey, Principal Officer in the Department of the Taoiseach, with responsibility for matters relating to social affairs, justice and public service reform, and Stephanie Harris, Assistant Principal Officer in the Social Policy and Public Service Reform Division, Department of the Taoiseach
- Ann-Marie O'Reilly, National Advocacy Manager, Threshold
- Eimear Howley, and Barry Gilhooley, Digital Services, Department of Social Protection
- Elena Kelly, Data Analyst, CIB Data & Research team
CIB would also like to extend thanks to all who attended, and for the generous feedback which will help inform future policy and research activity.
Pictured Left to Right: Bernadette Kennedy, Social Policy & Reserach, CIB; Fay White, Social Policy & Research, CIB; Elsa Flanagan, Head of ICT Digital & Data, CIB; Elena Kelly, Social Policy & Research, CIB; Joan O'Connor, Data & Research, CIB
Pictured Left to Right: Aisling Kennedy, Chair, MABS Support; Dr Nat O'Connor, Assistant Professor, School of Social Policy, Social Work and Social Justice at UCD; Graham Long, Chief Executive, CIB; Elsa Flanagan, Head of ICT Digital & Data, CIB; Joan O'Connor, Data & Research, CIB; Karl Cronin, Regional Manager, North Connacht & Ulster MABS
Pictured Left to Right: Dr Niamh Garvey, Principal Officer in the Department of the Taoiseach; Stephanie Harris, Assistant Principal Officer, Department of the Taoiseach; Joan O'Connor, Data & Research, CIB; Dr Nat O'Connor, Assistant Professor, School of Social Policy, Social Work and Social Justice at UCD,
Pictured Left to Right: Dr Nat O'Connor, Assistant Professor, School of Social Policy, Social Work and Social Justice at UCD; Dr Niamh Garvey, Principal Officer in the Department of the Taoiseach, with responsibility for matters relating to social affairs, justice and public service reform; Stephanie Harris, Assistant Principal Officer in the Social Policy and Public Service Reform Division, Department of the Taoiseach; Joan O'Connor, Data & Research, CIB; Elsa Flanagan, Head of ICT Digital & Data, CIB
Pictured Left to Right: Joan O'Connor, Data & Research, CIB; Elena Kelly, Social Policy & Research, CIB
Pictured Left to Right: Joan O'Connor, Data & Research, CIB; Ann-Marie O'Reilly, National Advocacy Manager, Threshold