Recent years have seen growing conversations about how disabled people are supported across the island of Ireland. Both jurisdictions – Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland – have been considering changes to policy and practice relating to disability and long-term illness. In recent time, both governments published Green Papers exploring potential reforms to social security/ income support systems for disabled people (AISSN are writing two academic papers about this – keep an eye out on our newsletter for updates!). These proposals have prompted significant discussion and debate among disabled people, disability activists, community organisations, researchers, civil servants and wider stakeholders. Concerns raised through these conversations have highlighted broader questions about the adequacy of current supports, the additional costs associated with disability, and the need to ensure that disabled people’s experiences and expertise are central to policy development.
Against this backdrop, on 8th June 2026, we came together in Dundalk, close to the border, for a “merging knowledge” workshop bringing together perspectives from across the island of Ireland. The workshop brought together an equal mix of participants from Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland: four representatives from disability organisations in each NI/ROI, alongside four researchers from the All-Island Social Security Network (AISSN), with two researchers representing universities from NI/ROI.
The workshop was facilitated by Professor Mary Murphy, drawing on her extensive experience of participatory and collaborative research, including work with organisations such as ATD Fourth World, REInVEST, Involve and PACHRA. Mary created a space that encouraged reflection, challenge and dialogue, allowing different forms of knowledge and experience to come together.
We began the day by separating into groups of academics, disabled people, and those working in support organisations. We were invited to reflect on a fundamental question: who – the state, the market or society – does what to support people’s wellbeing and survival? Starting with this helped us examine our own assumptions and consider the different roles that governments, communities, organisations and individuals play in creating (or limiting) the conditions for people to thrive. It provided a valuable foundation for the conversations that followed, as we explored how social change happens, the importance of context and culture, and what theories of change can tell us about creating more inclusive systems.
As the day progressed, we moved across groups and perspectives, sharing experiences of advocacy, service provision, research and expertise. The discussions highlighted both the similarities and differences in the challenges faced across the island, as well as the wealth of knowledge and innovation already taking place.
It was energising to hear about the important work happening in different communities and organisations, and there was real value in creating a space where learning, ideas and strategies could be shared across borders. These conversations reinforced the importance of bringing together different forms of expertise when thinking about the future of disability policy and social security.
As is often the case, the day ended with a sense that there was much more still to explore. There is enormous value in creating opportunities for continued dialogue and collaboration across the island of Ireland, and we look forward to building on the connections, learning and ideas generated through this workshop.
All-Island Social Security Network 