Defining Fuel Poverty in Northern Ireland: A preliminary review

Measures to tackle fuel poverty in Northern Ireland over the past decade have been effective but much more needs to be done, new research carried out by the University of Ulster has revealed.‘Defining Fuel Poverty: A Preliminary Review’, which was commissioned by the Department of Social Development, was launched at the Stormont Hotel by the DSD Minister Nelson McCausland.Christine Liddell, Professor of Psychology at the University of Ulster, led the independent Preliminary Review of fuel poverty, which is one of three being carried out across the UK.She said: “While efforts to tackle fuel poverty in Northern Ireland have made measurable inroads – the severity of fuel poverty remains profound for many households.“The Preliminary Review concludes, based on the extensive evidence gathered, that past and present approaches to tackling fuel poverty in Northern Ireland have delivered a highly cost-effective programme of housing regeneration. Returns from investment in Warm Homes and similar programmes include:-       substantial impacts on human health and well-being;-       significant savings on energy bills for thousands of households;-       measurable returns in terms of job creation;-       a widening of opportunities for consolidating partnerships across the public and private sector

The impact of COVID-19 on the physical activity and sedentary behaviour levels of pregnant women with gestational diabetes

The dataset for the research into the impact of COVID-19 on the activity levels of pregnant women with gestational diabetes. Questionnaires completed on Qualtrics between 5th July and 20th July 2020

Prevalence estimation of intellectual disability using national administrative and household survey data: The importance of survey question specificity

BACKGROUND: Variability in prevalence estimation of intellectual disability has been attributed to heterogeneity in study settings, methodologies, and intellectual disability case definitions. Among studies based on national household survey data specifically, variability in prevalence estimation has partly been attributed to the level of specificity of the survey questions employed to determine the presence of intellectual disability. SPECIFIC AIMS & METHOD: Using standardised difference scoring, and ‘intellectual disability’ survey data from the 2007 Northern Ireland Survey on Activity Limitation and Disability (NISALD) (N=23,689) and the 2011 Northern Ireland Census (N=1,770,217) the following study had two aims. First, we aimed to demonstrate the effects of survey question specificity on intellectual disability prevalence estimation. Second, we aimed to produce reliable estimates of the geographic variation of intellectual disability within private households in Northern Ireland while also assessing the socio-demographic, health-related and disability characteristics of this population. FINDINGS: Prevalence estimates generated using the more crudely classified intellectual disability Census data indicated a prevalence of 2% for the overall population, 3.8% for children aged between 0 and 15 years, and 1.5% for citizens aged 16 years or older. Intellectual disability prevalence estimates generated using the more explicitly defined 2007 NISALD data indicated a population prevalence of 0.5% for the overall population, 1.3% for children aged between 0 and 15 years, and 0.3% for citizens aged 16 years or older. The NISALD estimates were consistent with most recent international meta-analysis prevalence estimates. According to the NISALD data, the majority of those with an intellectual disability were male, lived outside Belfast, and experienced severe intellectual disability, with multiple comorbid health conditions. DISCUSSION: The current findings highlight the importance of survey question specificity in the estimation of intellectual disability prevalence and provide reliable prevalence estimates of intellectual disability in Northern Ireland. The findings also demonstrate the utility of administrative data for detecting and understanding intellectual disability, and inform recommendations on how to maximise use of future intellectual disability Census dat

Data set for COVID-19 Vaccine Uptake and Hesitancy Survey in Northern Ireland and Republic of Ireland: Applying the Theory of Planned Behaviour

Despite mass progress in COVID-19 vaccination uptake, vaccine hesitancy or anti-vax information has been reported that can delay public acceptance of a vaccine. An online cross-sectional survey (n=439) assessed COVID-19 vaccine uptake and hesitancy in adults in Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland. Participants completed an adapted version of the Theory of Planned Behaviour Vaccine Questionnaire, the Vaccine Attitudes Scale (VAX), Vaccine Confidence Scale, and questions on previous experience of COVID-19

A partnership-based model for embedding employability in urban planning education

This paper proposes a partnership-based model for embedding employability in urban planning education. The model is based on the author’s experiences of implementing an international project which supported the development of employability skills in urban and regional planning education in Malawi. Since independence, urban planners have typically trained outside the country, attending university in the UK and other Commonwealth countries. More recently, the paradigm has shifted towards in-country education delivered by academic staff cognisant with the opportunities and challenges of development in Malawi. There remains, though, a gap between graduate knowledge of the subject and the skills necessary to pursue a professional career in the sector. Although there is no consensus yet on the meaning of employability in the literature, lessons from the project indicate that academic–public–private collaboration helps incorporate in curriculum skills that employers anticipate. Applicability of these principles is however context dependent, particularly in the emerging economy context where institutional capacity may be less developed compared to elsewhere

Forward to the Past? Interpreting Contemporary and Future Loyalist Violence, 1994-2006

Abstract copyright UK Data Service and data collection copyright owner.This research project considered in detail loyalist violence in Northern Ireland since the paramilitary ceasefires of 1994, and its potential to continue, especially in relation to possible constitutional changes. The research examined three strands of contemporary loyalist violence, namely: sectarian attacks; violence directed at other loyalists; and the potential for future violence given constitutional uncertainty. The project gathered in-depth information on loyalist violence, including documentary factual research, covering the type of incident, prevalence, location and concentration. From this, geographic information system (GIS) maps of Troubles-related deaths attributed to loyalist paramilitaries were generated. Focus groups and interviews were conducted with loyalist and other key community representatives to ascertain perceptions of loyalist violence. Additional in-depth interviews were also undertaken with groups and individuals from projects and activities aimed at diluting the rationale of paramilitary involvement. Interviews with voluntary groups and statutory agencies allowed further exploration of perceptions of such violence and the potential impacts of diversionary schemes. Further information about the project can be found on the ESRC Forward to the Past? Interpreting Contemporary and Future Loyalist Violence award web page. Main Topics:This mixed-methods data collection includes three elements:15 transcripts of interviews with representatives from political parties, voluntary groups and statutory agencies, covering perceptions of loyalist violence and its potential to continuea database (MS Excel format) comprising media reports of 'punishment' attacks attributed to loyalist paramilitaries, from the ceasefires of 1994 to March 2006two GIS maps (Adobe PDF format) of Troubles-related deaths by postcodeFor further information, see documentation.<br

The COVID-19 Psychological Research Consortium Study, 2020-2021

The COVID-19 Psychological Research Consortium (C19PRC) Study aims to monitor and assess the long-term psychological, social, political and economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the UK general population. A longitudinal, internet panel survey was designed to assess: (1) COVID-19 related knowledge, attitudes and behaviours, (2) the occurrence of common mental health disorders, as well as the role of (3) psychological factors, and (4) social and political attitudes in influencing the public’s response to the pandemic. Quota sampling was used to recruit a nationally representative sample of adults in terms of age, sex and household income. The first C19PRC survey was launched on 23 March 2020 (Wave 1), the day that a strict lockdown was enforced across the UK, and recruited 2025 UK adults. As of February 2022, six follow-up surveys have been conducted: Wave 2, April/May 2020; Wave 3, July/August 2020; Wave 4, Nov/Dec 2020; Wave 5, March/April 2021; Wave 6, Aug/Sept 2021; and Wave 7, Nov/Dec 2021. The baseline sample was representative of the UK population in relation to economic activity, ethnicity, and household composition. Data collection for the C19PRC Study is ongoing, with subsequent follow-up surveys being conducted during 2022 (Waves 8 and 9). C19PRC Study data has strong generalisability to facilitate and stimulate interdisciplinary research on important pandemic-related public health questions. It will allow changes in mental health and psychosocial functioning to be investigated from the beginning of the pandemic, identifying vulnerable groups in need of support. Find out more about the study at https://www.sheffield.ac.uk/psychology-consortium-covid19The COVID-19 pandemic has led to unprecedented global restrictions on freedom of movement, social and economic activity. Pandemics may cause fear in the population, affecting behaviour which in turn may propagate or restrict the further spread of the virus. Social and economic restrictions may also have a major impact on population mental health, especially affecting vulnerable groups, influencing the nation's ability to recover once the pandemic is over. To investigate these mental health effects, it is necessary to collect data using validated measures capturing mental health and decision-making early and throughout the pandemic. Prior to our work leading to this application, no research has addressed this. With initial seed funding from the Universities of Sheffield and Ulster, we assessed mental health and other relevant variables in 2025 UK adults who are highly representative of the UK population in the week of March 23rd, and followed them up in a second wave between April 20th and 30th, with a 69% follow-up rate. We measured not only mental health but many other social and Our work is already being used by the Cabinet Office, Public Health England and the Department of Health and Social Care. We request funding for five further waves of data collection (including one wave of increased sampling to ensure that the four nations/provinces of the UK are fully represented). We also seek funding for more detailed investigations of subgroups within our sample using qualitative interviews of vulnerable people (e.g. older people, people with pre-existing medical conditions) conducted over the telephone, cognitive testing of decision-making processes relevant to the perception of infection risk, and momentary experience sampling (in which people are contact at random intervals throughout the day to ask them about their experiences and feelings) extending until March 2021 after the hoped-for end of the crisis. We will achieve a complete picture of the psychology of a country during crisis and release our findings to the public and government in a timely manner, and make the data available to other scientists.</p

Mathematical Models of Manpower Systems, 1960-1975

Abstract copyright UK Data Service and data collection copyright owner.To continue work by previous investigators to produce quantitative models describing the movement of staff through firms, and by making inter-firm comparisons, attempt to identify circumstances affecting the patterns of movement. Data from eight British and Irish organisations were used (8 companies).Main Topics:Variables Age, sex, starting date, leaving date, qualifications, reason for leaving. For each year 1960 - 1975 (census 1st January): function, grade, salary and remarks