Mapping Social Inclusion

The overall aim of our research is to highlight the potential of mapping social inclusion data at a local level to improve decision making, planning and monitoring. To date government departments have yet to develop proper and integrated data management systems and as a result planners and researchers are unable to benefit from the detail that is held within administrative datasets. AIRO is involved in a number of different projects that seek to improve access to social inclusion data by highlighting the potential of mapping adminsitrative data and by developing a set of interactive mapping tools that are freely available to public users to gain a better understanding of local areas.

PLANET: New Ways of Mapping Social Inclusion

In March 2008, PLANET – The Partnerships Network, in conjunction with the SIM group of Dublin City Development Board and Dublin City Council engaged NIRSA and AIRO to explore new ways to spatially analyse and map social inclusion data in Dublin City.
The rationale for the project was that providing partnerships and others concerned with social inclusion with a greater level of detail and access to information at a local community level would enable better area-based policy formulation based upon a fuller understanding of the nature of local communities and their specific needs.

Having a detailed and robust evidence base as a background to policy development will ensure maximum benefit is drawn from public finances. One way to ensure this is the case is to map relevant data at as finer resolutions as possible to expose the patterns that characterise an area and its population. With a specific focus on Dublin-based partnership areas a pilot project was undertaken in two study locations: Ballyfermot/Chapelizod Partnership, Northside Partnership.

The report can be downloaded from the DCC website here, the final presentation of the project at the Mansion House can be downloaded here. 

Following the completion of the PLANET project, AIRO was asked to produce a series of interactive mapping modules for every partnership in the country. The mapping modules contain a full set of census data for 2002 and 2006 and allow partnerhips interrogate data and create maps for inclusion in reports, presentations and aid in decision making. The mapping modules currently sit on the Irish Local Development Network (ILDN) website. AIRO is also working on an updated version of the mapping module - these will be available on the Local Partnerhip section of the Mapping Module page. Once registeted, click here

As a follow-on to this initial piece of work AIRO/NIRSA are currently working with Kilkenny County Council and Southside Partnership in similar studies. More details will be posted here in due course.