Data & Research
The Planet Youth survey is primarily designed to gather the evidence needed to inform development of preventative interventions intended to improve health outcomes for young people.
The survey data, whilst intended primarily to inform the prevention model, also has a great many secondary and additional applications, and we make efforts to ensure that the datasets are put to use for further research and practical purposes.
The Planet Youth surveys
There have been four Planet Youth data collections in Galway, Mayo and Roscommon. All post-primary schools and Youthreach centres in the region have participated in each biennial survey.
- The 2018 survey was conducted in September 2018 and the full dataset contains 4,848 records.
- The 2020 survey was conducted in December 2020, during the COVID19 restrictions, and the full dataset contains 5,000 records.
- The 2022 survey was conducted in November 2022 and the full dataset contains 5,277 records.
- The 2024 survey was conducted in November 2024 and the full dataset contains 6,500 records.
Access to the datasets
Agencies in the West of Ireland have access to the datasets, and to specialist agency and area reports, via the Planet Youth Coordinator at the WRDATF.
The datasets have been used by agencies within the region for the following purposes:
- Supporting grant applications.
- Helping to design activities, priorities, and workplans.
- Area based needs analysis and community planning.
- Health promotion.
- In local Children and Young Peoples Services Committees (CYPSC) planning.
- Providing a business case for more services and facilities for young people, especially when accessing funding for positive mental health.
- Advancement of local research programmes.
The datasets have also available via the Irish Social Sciences Data Archive (ISSDA) for research and teaching purposes.
ISSDA
The Irish Social Science Data Archive (ISSDA) is Ireland’s leading centre for quantitative data acquisition, preservation, and dissemination. Based at UCD Library, its mission is to ensure access to quantitative datasets in the social sciences, and to advance the promotion of international comparative studies of the Irish economy and Irish society.
The pseudonymised Planet Youth datasets have been archived at ISSDA since 2020. Data is available there to request for non-commercial research and teaching purposes.
Links to a selection of research articles
The Planet Youth datasets have been used extensively for research purposes. Some articles include:
Adolescent binge drinking in the West of Ireland: associated risk and protective factors