This Overview document accompanies the Inventory of Data Sources on Children’s Lives, which is an online inventory of data sources covering multiple dimensions of children’s lives. The inventory is available online as a series of meta-data summaries in tabular format at www.dcya.gov.ie. These resources are aimed at a range of users, including those involved in research, service planning, service evaluation and policy development and monitoring. They are intended to promote awareness and increased use of existing data sources on children’s lives.