Helen Johnston

Dr. Helen Johnston joined NESC as a Senior Social Policy Analyst in July 2007. Since then she has worked on a range of issues including: well-being and social reporting; social regulation and standards; the social consequences of the 2008 economic crisis; social disadvantage; jobless households; and the future of the Irish social welfare system. Currently, Helen is leading a wide-ranging research project on Shared Island. A native of Northern Ireland, Helen has previous experience working in the Northern Ireland civil service. She was previously Director of the Combat Poverty Agency, and Chair of the Centre for Cross Border Studies.  Helen has qualifications in Environmental Science and Town and Country Planning, a Masters in Business Administration, and a Doctorate in Governance, where she examined the implementation of mental health policy in Ireland.

 

Tel: 00 353 87 4191780

Email: helen.johnston@nesc.ie

 

Current Projects

Shared Island

 

Selected Bibliography

Johnston, H. (2022) ‘Basic Income in Ireland: The Development of Two Pilots’ in European Journal of Social Security, https://doi.org/10.1177/13882627221109287.

Johnston, H. & McGauran, A.M. (2021) ‘Moving towards a more tailored Public Employment Service? In Administration, Vol. 69, No.2, pp. 107-125.

Johnston, H. (2017) ‘Poverty Proofing – An evolutionary process towards poverty reduction’ in Administration, Vol. 65, No. 3, pp. 123-139.

Johnston, H., Rubin, A., Froy, F. & Noya, A. (2016) Weaving Together Policies for Social Inclusion in Ireland. Paris: OECD.

Hogan, M., Johnston, H., Broome, B. and Noone, C. (2015) ‘On the Design of National Wellbeing Measures and Policies’ in Celinski, M.J. (Ed.) Crisis and Renewal of Civilisations: The 21st Century Crisis of Ideas and Character. New York: Nova Science Publishers.

Johnston, H. (2014) ‘All Vision but no Change? Determinants of Implementation: The Case of Ireland and Mental Health Policy’. Dublin: Institute of Public Administration.

Johnston, H. (2013) ‘Rebuilding a Flourishing Society‘ in Administration, vol. 61, No. 1, pp. 81-97.

Johnston, H. (2010) ‘Instruments for Implementation’ in EAPN Ireland and the European Social
Inclusion Strategy. Dublin: EAPN.

Johnston, H. (2009) ‘Well-being Matters in Measuring Social Progress’ in Reynolds, B. and Healy,
S. (Eds.) Beyond GDP: What is prosperity and how should it be measured? Dublin: Social Justice
Ireland.

Johnston, H., Logue, P. and McGeeney, A. (2009) ‘The Legacy of Combat Poverty in Building
Peace and Reconciliation’ in O’Flynn, J. (Ed.) Poverty Policy and Practice: Combat Poverty 1986-
2009. Dublin: Institute of Public Administration and Combat Poverty Agency.

Johnston, H. (2007) ‘Ireland – A Society based on Solidarity? A Review of the Irish National Anti-
Poverty Strategy’ in Herrmann, P. & Herrenbrueck, S. (Eds.) Changing Administration-Changing
Society: Challenges for Current Social Policy. New York: Nova Science Publishers.

Johnston, H. (2006) ‘Ending Child Poverty – A Shared Responsibility’ in Mulholland, J. (Ed.) The
Soul of Ireland – Issues of Society, Culture and Identity: Essays for the 2006 MacGill Summer
School. Dublin: The Liffey Press.

Johnston, H. (1999) ‘Poverty in Ireland’ in Kiely, G., O’Donnell, A., Kennedy, P. & Quin, S. (Eds.)
Irish Social Policy in Context. Dublin: University College Dublin Press.