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Curricular information is subject to change
At the end of this module, a student, who has attended lectures, engaged with directed readings, and completed all assessments, will be able to:
LO1: Appreciate the interrelationship between policy, politics, administration and law in the arena of social inclusion as relevant to social welfare law and housing law;
LO2: Evaluate legislative entitlement to social welfare and housing in Ireland, broadly, and with respect to identified societal groups.
LO3: Appraise the utility, or otherwise, of Irish constitutional law and international human rights law in protecting persons rights to welfare and/or housing.
LO4: Interpret and apply primary legal materials and research legal problems;
LO5: Formulate opinions and communicate ideas in an appropriate manner to different target audiences.
Social Inclusion Law reflects on the role of the law and the legal system in protecting persons from poverty in Ireland. With a focus on social inclusion and the Irish legal system, this module examines three interlinked issues in order to reflect on the role of law in promoting social inclusion: (1) Law and Welfare, (2) Law and Housing and (3) Law & Social Rights.
(1) In Law and Welfare, the role of Irish legislation in protection persons against poverty will be described, analysed and critiqued. Key legislative qualification criteria for social welfare payments will be discussed. Detailed insights into the legal basis and judicial interpretation of social welfare law in Ireland will be considered. This may focus on administrative and judicial systems for determining qualification entitlement, as well as on select societal groups in other to provide a deep understanding of how general rules of applicability, may impact differently on societal groups.
(2) In Law and Housing, we will engage in a detailed exploration of select issues which may include: housing and social welfare law, local authority housing allocation law and Travellers and housing rights. Issues of housing have dominated political discourses in Ireland over the last decade. The retreating role of the State in housing provision has led to complex legislative rules and criteria that will be considered.
(3) In Law and Social Rights, the concept of social inclusion and the role of law is examined. In commencing our exploration, we will engage extensively with Bunreacht na hÉireann (the Irish Constitution) and the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (ICESCR). The limits, but also the potentials, for Bunreacht to further protect housing and welfare rights, as two types of social and economic right, will be considered. This may include consideration of proposals to amend the constitution so as to protect rights to welfare and rights to housing.
| Student Effort Type | Hours |
|---|---|
| Lectures | 20 |
| Specified Learning Activities | 5 |
| Autonomous Student Learning | 100 |
| Total | 125 |
Not applicable to this module.
| Resit In | Terminal Exam |
|---|---|
| Spring | Yes - 2 Hour |
• Feedback individually to students, post-assessment
• Group/class feedback, post-assessment
• Self-assessment activities
Should students require feedback on their learning for this module, then students are encouraged to self-assess their learning, and seek clarification from the lecturer, by arranging to meet the lecturer during office hours. Group class feedback on the end of trimester examination will be available once grades are confirmed by the University. To gain individual feedback on the end of trimester examination, students will follow UCD School of Law requirements for requesting an individual feedback meeting once grades are approved. Full information on this process will be provided to students via Brightspace in January/February 2023.