From evidence infrastructure to evidence capability: Reframing evidence-informed policy-making in Ireland

This paper argues that the next phase of evidence-informed policy-making in Ireland requires a shift in focus from evidence infrastructure to evidence capability. Drawing together the contributions to this special edition of Administration, it argues that while Ireland has made significant progress in building institutional structures that support evidence use, structure alone is insufficient. The effective use of evidence depends upon the capabilities of individuals, organisations and systems to acquire, interpret, synthesise and apply evidence in complex policy environments. The paper identifies four interdependent dimensions of evidence capability – analytical and data capability, policy capability, knowledge brokerage capability and leadership capability – and concludes that the next phase should move beyond evidence-informed policy-making as a discrete reform agenda towards the deliberate and systematic development of an evidence-capable public service.