An Taoiseach Micheál Martin TD launches Crann Centre's Research Strategy

Last week, marked an important moment at the Crann Centre with the launch of their new Research Strategy by An Taoiseach Micheál Martin TD - an important step forward in strengthening how whole-family disability support is designed, understood and valued.

An Taoiseach’s visit reflected growing interest in how evidence-based, family-centred approaches can inform disability services and policy. As the Taoiseach noted, “Crann’s Research Strategy reflects a strong commitment to evidence-based innovation to support families living with disability.”

Crann’s work is rooted in lived experience and the ethos of "nothing about us, without us". Families tell Crann what’s needed, what’s missing and what makes the biggest difference in everyday life.

This Research Strategy gives Crann a clear structure to capture that learning and use it to inform the work and recommendations for how disability care is provided in Ireland. It enables Crann to strengthen and scale its 2-Generation (whole-family) Model of Care, and to demonstrate why supporting the whole family leads to better outcomes.
As Crann board chair and founder Kate Jarvey put it, “This Research Strategy is about making the invisible visible … ensuring that the voices and lived experiences of families are translated into robust evidence that can drive meaningful and lasting change.”

Building Evidence with UCC
A central part of the strategy is the partnership with University College Cork (UCC). This collaboration combines academic rigour with real-world practice, ensuring what is learn't is credible, useful and transferable.

Professor John O’Halloran, President of UCC, reflected this shared approach, highlighting the value of research that is grounded in local services but widely relevant.

The strategy has been co-designed with people who live with disabilities, alongside practitioners and researchers. That commitment - “nothing about us without us” - is embedded through a Living Lab approach, where families play an active role in shaping, testing and refining supports.

Ronan Palmer, parent and Chair of our Research Advisory Board, described it simply:
“By working alongside disabled clients and their families, Crann’s research makes a real contribution to changing our lived experience for the better.”

Current analysis indicates a social return of €3.68 for every euro invested in key Crann services, with the Research Strategy providing the mechanism to further evidence, understand and expand this impact.

To learn more please visit here.