Thomas Gould
Ceist:111. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science whether he has funded any innovation or research on Meanwhile Use. [49384/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraThursday, 2 July 2026
Ceisteanna (111)
Freagraí scríofa
Whilst research related or connected to Meanwhile Use has taken place in several higher education institutions in recent years, and as an aspect of some Taighde Éireann- Research Ireland funded projects, my department has not directly funded or commissioned such research.
Taighde Éireann - Research Ireland is not currently funding a specific research award related to Meanwhile Use but currently funded projects with a focus on housing policy have links to the topic.
The Transforming Housing Policy and Democratic Governance through Responsive and Innovative Information Processing (THRIVE) project is being led by researchers at DCU via a Taighde Éireann - Research Ireland COALESCE 2025 award.
This project brings together researchers from the social sciences and technology to develop tools to support citizen voices being heard and engaged in shaping housing policy in Ireland. Through advanced data analysis and innovative information processing, THRIVE aims to transform how public feedback is processed, interpreted, and applied in relation to policy making.
Key to this research project is the development of the preliminary tool called the Citizen Insight Prioritization Framework (CIPF), an innovative tool that will be designed to help policymakers prioritise and interpret citizen feedback more effectively.
Using a custom-designed language model, the project will sift through extensive citizen contributions in housing consultations to highlight common concerns, public sentiment, and community-specific needs, bringing these to the fore in targeted data summaries. This study seeks to make public consultations more impactful by designing tools for citizen engagement with the potential to shape policy.
The THRIVE project will work to create tools that policymakers can avail of to inform decisions that are transparent, responsive, and better aligned with the needs of the public. Ultimately, THRIVE aims to help to build trust and public engagement by creating the tools to support an inclusive approach to housing policy that reflects the concerns and aspirations of Irish communities, and provide policymakers with novel and specific approaches to policy issues.
The Deputy may wish to engage with the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage, who may be able to provide further information.