Guidelines on the functioning of Tusla’s Research Ethics Committee

As part of the Research Strategy, Tusla has established an Independent Research Ethics Committee (REC) and has published both Guidelines and a Standard Operating Procedure for the functioning of the committee. These guidelines,  standard operating procedures and REC review is required where the research relates to the following areas of the Agency’s responsibility:

These guidelines apply and REC review is required where the research relates to the following areas of the Agency’s responsibility:

• Potential research participants identified from, or because of their past or present use of services provided by the Agency (including services provided under contract with the private, voluntary or community sectors).
• Potential research participants identified because of their status as relatives or carers of past or present users of the Agency’s services.
• Potential research participants identified because of their status as providers of the Agency’s services.

The principal ethics consideration of the REC will be given to ensuring the maximum benefit of the research whilst minimizing the risk of actual or potential harm. The procedures of the REC will seek to protect, as far as possible, all groups involved in the research, including participants, researchers and research teams throughout the lifecycle of the research (ESRC, 2015).

The Child and Family Agency REC will review research proposals in terms of their ethical appropriateness. This entails consideration of:

• The design of the research
• The outputs of the research
• The proposed conduct of the research

Pending the establishment of a Reserch Ethics Committee, all potential researchers, internal and external, must contact the National Research Office and complete a Research Agreement prior to commencing any research. Research proposals are reviewed on a 6 weekly basis. Submissions must be received two weeks in advance.

Please contact the REC Administrator for a copy of the Research Ethics Review Standard Application Form (as of April 2019) and a schedule of REC meeting dates.  Only the April 2019 Form should be used by potential applicants. The form must be completed prior to commencing any research. Research proposals are reviewed on a six weekly basis. Submissions must be received three weeks in advance. Email: recadmin@tusla.ie