We have news of a research project titled ‘Non-Traditional Pathways to Parenthood’ that Ciara Bradley of Maynooth University is working on, with colleagues in DkIT and Rainbow Families Equality Network Ireland.

The lack of legal recognition for many who follow non-traditional pathways to parenthood is having significant impacts upon families in relation to access to healthcare, the right to travel, and citizenship and inheritance rights (to name a few). This situation affects opposite and same-sex parents, as well as solo parents.

The research is interested in the experience of families living in Ireland and that of Irish citizens living abroad who have children, have tried to have children or are intending to have children using donor-conception, surrogacy, or adoption (in Ireland or abroad). Parents whose status became recognised with the commencement of the Child and Family Relationship Act in 2020 are also invited to take part in this study. The research involves an anonymous online survey and interviews with a representative sample of different family types.

Please help spread the word about the research and participate if this is relevant to you. The survey is open until the end of May. Information about this research, as well as a link to the survey and the sign up for interview can be accessed here: https://nontradfam.wordpress.com/

Dr Ciara Bradley is a Lecturer/Assistant Professor; Coordinator Master of Social Science (Community and Youth Work) at Maynooth University, Department of Applied Social Studies