Irish Social Policy Association
The Irish Social Policy Association was founded in 1997. The association was established to provide a forum for the analysis, discussion and development of social policy in Ireland, North and South. The inspiration to form a cross border Association dedicated to social policy in Ireland came from Dr Patricia Kennedy and Dr Nessa Winston from the Department of Social Policy and Social Work, National University of Ireland, Dublin.
The Association endeavors to broaden the debate on social policy by providing a forum for discussion that embraces the views and opinion of a wide range of relevant actors. ISPA brings together professionals and non-professionals with an interest in social policy, academics, policy makers, officials in the civil service and public service bodies, employer and trade union organisations as well as organisations and groups in the not-for-profit sector. Through the Association, discussions and debates have been stimulated on a variety of contemporary social policy issues.
Organisational Structure
The affairs of the Association are directed by an Executive Committee. The Executive Committee consists of a Chair, Vice-Chair, Secretary, Treasurer, Development Officer, Public Relations Officer, Post-graduate Officer, and Ordinary Members. The current Committee was elected at the A.G.M. of the Association on the 11th April, 2005.