Growing Up in Ireland · Research Needs Report for Cohort 24 at 3 years

This report was produced by the Research and Evaluation Unit (REU) to inform data collection for the ‘age 3’ wave of Growing Up in Ireland’s Cohort 24. At time of writing, the children who will make up Cohort 24 for the years to come were being recruited and interviewed by the Central Statistics Office (CSO) at age 9 months in 2024/25. Fieldwork for Cohort 24 at age 3 is expected to take place in 2027.

This Research Needs Report outlines the topics that are considered relevant for the age 3 data collection based on policy relevance and informed by similar surveys conducted with older cohorts in the Growing Up in Ireland study, and other national and international studies. Consultations with a wide range of stakeholders – including academic experts, policy-makers, parents and children – were an important part of the process. An independent report on the consultation with young children is published as an appendix to the main report. The ultimate decisions in relation to the final design of the next survey rests with the CSO.