The Research Evidence and Data to Support Policy Development and Implementation (RED) Report 2026 highlights how research, evidence and data support education and youth policy in Ireland. The report outlines how the Department of Education and Youth and its agencies use evidence to inform decision-making, policy development and service delivery. The report provides an overview of the structures, research networks and analytical work that support policymaking across the sector. It also provides key examples of how research and data have informed major policy initiatives. Four case studies follow a common structure that demonstrates how the work aligns with the Government’s Policy Handbook, published by the Department of the Taoiseach.