Administrative Duplication Review
Mapping circumstances in which substantially similar information is requested through separate administrative processes.
Programme overview →CLARITY · COORDINATION · EVIDENCE
Making administration
simpler to navigate.
We examine unnecessary administrative complexity across Irish public life and explore practical opportunities for clearer, more coherent interactions between institutions, organisations and citizens.
CURRENT WORK
Where complexity accumulates
Our programme concentrates on the points where otherwise reasonable administrative processes overlap, repeat or become difficult to understand.
Public Bodies Correspondence Project
Examining the clarity, accessibility and consistency of routine institutional correspondence.
Research questions →The Coordination Index
Developing an exploratory framework for understanding administrative burden where responsibility crosses organisational boundaries.
Methodology note →“Complexity rarely arrives all at once. More often, it accumulates one perfectly reasonable procedure at a time.”
Working principle · 2027 programme
PUBLICATIONS
Evidence before prescription.
Our papers are intended to define problems carefully before proposing solutions. Publications distinguish observed evidence, interpretation and recommendations.
IOAS
DISCUSSION
PAPER 01
DISCUSSION
PAPER 01
FORTHCOMING · 2027
Towards Simpler Administration
A framework for identifying institutional duplication in Ireland.
View publication ↗
Briefing Note 01What do we mean by administrative duplication?2027 · Briefing note
Methods Paper 01Measuring coordination without measuring activity2027 · Methods paper
Working Paper 01When a citizen becomes the messenger between institutions2027 · Working paper
Working Paper 02The Unequal Burden of Administrative Complexity2027 · Working paper
Working Paper 03Administrative Orphan Points2027 · Working paper
Case Study 01Following the Hand-offs — HAPEvidence review · 2026
Case Study 02The State Already Knows — BereavementEvidence review · 2026
Case Study 03When Capacity Meets Complexity — Fair DealEvidence review · 2026
OPEN CALL
Where have you encountered needless duplication?
We welcome examples from citizens, practitioners, researchers, professional bodies and public-service personnel. We are interested in processes rather than complaints about individuals.
ABOUT THE OFFICE
Small institution.
Deliberately narrow remit.
The Irish Office for Administrative Simplification is an independent, non-governmental research initiative examining administrative complexity, institutional coordination and the experience of navigating public-facing systems in Ireland.
It does not exercise statutory powers, speak on behalf of the Irish Government, or represent any Department, Minister or public body. Its work is research, analysis and public-interest discussion.
Our approach is intentionally modest: identify a process, understand why it developed, establish what evidence exists, and ask whether the same legitimate purpose could be achieved more clearly.
Antóin de Brún
Founder and Research Lead
His research interests include institutional boundaries, citizen-mediated administration and the hidden work citizens perform to keep administrative journeys moving.
Read more about the Office →01
Independence
No institutional conclusion is predetermined.
02
Proportionality
Simplification should not discard necessary safeguards.
03
Evidence
Observation and recommendation are kept distinct.
04
Clarity
Public-facing administration should be understandable.
QUESTIONS
Is the Office part of the Irish Government?
No. It is an independent, non-governmental research initiative and does not claim governmental or statutory authority.
Does the Office accept public funding?
IOAS does not currently solicit public funding. Any future funding arrangements will be disclosed transparently.
Can public bodies participate?
Individuals and organisations may contribute observations or respond to research questions in their own capacity, subject to their own rules and obligations.