Abstract
Using documentary sources, this chapter analyses the way policy makers approached social security and identifies key themes in the documents and debates (social insurance, the male breadwinner model and the decline of paternalism). It also describes the social security system in 2016 and compares this with the system in 1981 to summarise the degree and pattern of change. The details of the changes over time are used to apply Pierson’s typology of welfare state change. The chapter concludes by noting the variety of ways change can take place and introduces the narratives that are given in Chapters 8–10.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Access this chapter
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
References
Bonoli, G. (2013). The Origins of Active Social Policy. Oxford: Oxford University Press.
Budget (Annual Statement by Minister for Finance to Dáil).
Clasen, J., & Clegg, D. (2007). Levels and Levers of Conditionality. In J. Clasen, & N. Siegel (Eds.), Investigating Welfare State Change: The ‘Dependent’ Variable Problem in Comparative Analysis. Cheltenham: Edward Elgar.
Clasen, J., & Van Oorschot, W. (2002). Changing Principles in European Social Security. European Journal of Social Security, 4(2), 89–115.
Commission on Social Welfare. (1986). Report. Dublin: Government Publications.
Commission on the Family. (1998). Report: Strengthening Families for Life. Dublin: Government Publications.
Cousins, M. (2005). Explaining the Irish Welfare State: A Historical, Comparative and Political Analysis. Lewiston: Edwin Mellen Press.
Department of Social and Family Affairs. (2003). Report of the Working Group on the Review of the Illness and Disability Payment Schemes. Dublin: Department of Social and Family Affairs.
Department of Social and Family Affairs. (2006a). Proposals for Supporting Lone Parents [PSLP]: Government Discussion Paper. Dublin: Department of Social and Family Affairs.
Department of Social and Family Affairs. (2006b). Report of the Working Group on the Supplementary Welfare Allowance Scheme. Dublin: Department of Social and Family Affairs.
Department of Social Protection (DSP). (2010). Report on the Desirability and Feasibility of Introducing a Single Social Assistance Payment for People of Working Age. Dublin: Department of Social Protection.
Department of Social Protection. (2014). Value for Money Review of the Disability Allowance Scheme. Dublin: Department of Social Protection.
Department of Social Welfare. (1996). Social Insurance in Ireland [SII]. Dublin: Department of Social Welfare.
Department of Social Welfare. (1998). A Review of the Carer’s Allowance. Dublin: Department of Social Welfare.
Department of Social Welfare. (2000). Review of the One Parent Family Payment [ROPFP]. Dublin: Department of Social Welfare.
Expert Working Group on the Integration of the Tax and Social Welfare Systems [EWGITSW]. (1996). Report. Dublin: Government Publications.
Hacker, J. S. (2004). Privatising Risk Without Privatising the Welfare State: The Hidden Politics of Social Policy Retrenchment in the United States. American Political Science Review, 98(2), 243–260.
Healy, S., & Reynolds, B. (1994). Towards an Adequate Income Guarantee. Dublin: Conference of Religious of Ireland.
Healy, S., & Reynolds, B. (1995). An Adequate Income Guarantee for All. Dublin: Conference of Religious of Ireland.
Honohan, P. (1987). A Radical Reform of Social Welfare and Income Tax Evaluated. Administration, 35(1), 69–82.
Hughes, G. (1988). Disability Benefit Reform: Rationalisation or Subsidisation? Dublin: Economic and Social Research Institute.
Lewis J. (1992). Gender and the Development of Welfare Regimes. Journal of European Social Policy, 2(3), 159–173.
Mahoney, J., & Thelen, K. (2010). A Theory of Gradual Institutional Change. In K. Thelen & J. Mahoney (Eds.), Explaining Institutional Change (pp. 1–36). Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
McCashin, A. (1992). The Politics of Social Security in Ireland: A Case Study of the Report of the Commission on Social Welfare. Conference Paper, University College Cork (unpublished).
Pierson, P. (2001). Coping with Permanent Austerity: Welfare State Restructuring in Affluent Democracies. In P. Pierson (Ed.), The New Politics of the Welfare State (pp. 401–456). Oxford: Oxford University Press.
Review Group on the Treatment of Households in the Social Welfare Code [RGTHSW]. (1991). Report. Dublin: Government Publications.
Working Group Examining the Treatment of Married, Cohabiting and One-Parent Families under the Tax and Social Welfare Codes [RWG]. (1999). Report. Dublin: Government Publications.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 2019 The Author(s)
About this chapter
Cite this chapter
McCashin, A. (2019). Policy Change: An Interpretive Analysis. In: Continuity and Change in the Welfare State. Palgrave Macmillan, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-96779-0_6
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-96779-0_6
Published:
Publisher Name: Palgrave Macmillan, Cham
Print ISBN: 978-3-319-96778-3
Online ISBN: 978-3-319-96779-0
eBook Packages: Political Science and International StudiesPolitical Science and International Studies (R0)