Strengthening the evidence-support system for health policymaking in Ireland: a rapid evidence support system assessment

Evidence support systems link research evidence with policymaking, yet few government departments have systematically assessed how well these systems function. We undertook a rapid evidence support system assessment (RESSA) to examine the demand for, supply of and coordination around evidence for health policy decisions in Ireland. We triangulated a targeted review of 50 policy documents (published between 2018 and 2024) with 19 semi-structured interviews involving 20 stakeholders across the Department of Health, national agencies, research bodies and evidence intermediaries engaged in health policymaking in Ireland. Data were thematically analysed against the three RESSA domains (demand, supply and interface). Across the document review and interviews, policymakers and evidence providers expressed a commitment to evidence use. On the demand side, this commitment was supported by structured mechanisms such as formal evidence providers, health technology assessments and established pathways for decisions such as screening programmes, though analytical capacity was uneven and evidence use often relied on informal networks. On the supply side, dedicated research, evaluation and analytics units within the Department play key roles, but processes for requesting and commissioning evidence varied and quality-assurance standards were inconsistent. At the interface between research and policy, personal relationships enabled rapid evidence use, especially during the COVID‑19 pandemic, but reliance on ad hoc coordination created vulnerability to staff turnover. Opportunities to strengthen the system included a central evidence repository, more consistent quality standards, expanded modelling and synthesis capacity, better data access and linkage, dedicated knowledge-broker roles and rapid-response services for urgent needs. Ireland has many of the building blocks of a strong evidence-support system, including dedicated evidence units, valued partnerships and policy commitment, but these are not yet integrated into a resilient, end‑to‑end infrastructure. Our recommendations are intended to support more coordinated, transparent and systematic use of evidence in health policymaking. Realising this will also depend on leadership, resourcing and the political and cultural conditions that shape how evidence is used.