·Traces the emergence and development of Irish social policy from its origins to contemporary times

This new book offers undergraduate students a core text for the study of Irish social policy, combining an introduction to the discipline with analysis directly based on the Irish context.

· Explains key theoretical and conceptual underpinnings including welfare ideologies and globalisation

· Looks at the key social services in the Irish context and analyses them within the broader disciplinary framework

· Examines how Irish social policy and social services affect different social groups, including carers and minority ethnic groups

· Discusses new areas within the discipline including sustainability and quality of life

· Each chapter includes text boxes highlighting key concepts, definitions and developments as well as guides for further reading and discussion

· Suitable for students taking social science, social work and social care degrees at universities and institutes of technology, in which social policy is a key discipline

· Also suitable for students taking courses with a social policy component, including: government and public policy; nursing; public health; and early childhood studies