The CSO is calling on families to help shape the future for children in Ireland.
This is the first time in 16 years that Growing up in Ireland (GUI) is asking families with new babies to take part in this significant national survey. It will also be the first new GUI survey conducted by the CSO.
This new infant group joins the existing two cohorts which were recruited in 1998 and 2008.
The CSO is asking 15,000-16,000 randomly sampled families from all over the country who have a nine-month-old baby to take part in this major national survey.
This is a longitudinal survey which means we will follow the progress of the child as they grow up, making it a study of children, with children, for children.
The GUI survey provides essential data on child development and informs the creation of responsive, child-focused policies.
The data can be used to improve the delivery of services for children and their families in Ireland.
Learn more about GUI results on growingup.gov.ie
Central Statistics Office (CSO) launch first new national infant cohort for Growing up in Ireland Survey in 16 years.
Growing up in Ireland is jointly managed by the CSO and the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration & Youth. The CSO will be asking 15,000-16,000 randomly selected families of nine-month-old babies to take part in this hugely significant national survey. Find more information at growingup.gov.ie
See the CSO’s Trust and Transparency section on our website for more information.
Further information see our GUI Data Protection Transparency Notice.
Katie O’Farrell | (+353) 1 498 4147 |
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GUI@cso.ie | |
pressoffice@cso.ie |
Have your chance to help shape the future of children in Ireland
The Central Statistics Office (CSO) is today (20 September 2024) launching a new cohort within the Growing Up in Ireland (GUI) survey, which is one of the most important and substantial research initiatives about children in Ireland.
The GUI is a crucial, national longitudinal study of children that follows them as they grow up in Ireland and tracks the challenges and opportunities they face. Since 2008, the study, which was previously conducted by the Economic and Social Research Institute (ESRI) has followed the lives of more than 19,000 children and young people through two different cohorts: those who were aged nine in 2007/2008 (Cohort ’98) and those who were aged nine months in 2008/2009 (Cohort ’08).
The new baby cohort will be known as Cohort ’24. In the 16 years since the GUI last randomly sampled families with new babies to take part in the study, there have been significant social, economic, and policy changes in Ireland. The GUI survey will provide essential data on the extent to which these changes affect child development, inform the creation of responsive, child-focused policies, and improve the potential delivery of services for children and their families in Ireland.
Jennifer Banim, Director General of the CSO, said: “Growing up in Ireland will be one of the most valuable surveys undertaken by the CSO as it captures the experience of parents and children growing up in Ireland and the impact of societal changes. The survey helps highlight changes such as how much time children spend playing outdoors or how families and children have responded to the challenges of mobile phones and social media, or changes in mental health. The data provided by the Growing up in Ireland survey has already had a significant influence on childhood studies and polices, such as the free early care and pre-school education of children in Ireland. I would encourage any household randomly selected to take part to use this invitation as an opportunity to shape future childhoods in Ireland.”
Katie O’Farrell, Senior Statistician with the CSO’s GUI team, said: “Growing up in Ireland is a unique survey because not only is it a study of children, but the children themselves become active participants in the survey throughout the years, and the results will help shape the future of the next generation of children. Essentially, it is a study of children, with children, for children.
Today we are launching a new longitudinal birth cohort, meaning we will follow this same group of children over time. We’re asking families to take part when their baby is nine months old. Experiences in infancy are so important for shaping a child’s future. We are interested in capturing details of the most important influences in the first year of your baby’s life. We will be able to track the contribution of those first beginnings through early childhood and beyond.
To the 15,000-16,000 families with new babies that have been randomly selected to take part, your time and contribution to this survey is so valuable. I would strongly encourage any family that has been invited to take part to get involved in this unique chance to be the voice of children’s experience of growing up in Ireland. By taking part, you are helping to shape the future for our children.”