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Optimising public health physical distancing measures has been a critical part of the global response to the spread of COVID-19. Evidence collected during the current pandemic shows that the transmission rate of the virus is significantly reduced following implementation of intensive physical distancing measures. Adherence to these recommendations has been poorer than adherence to other key transmission reduction behaviours such as handwashing. There are a complex range of reasons that are likely to predict why people do not or only partially adhere to physical distancing recommendations. In the current project we aim to address the following research questions: (1) What are the psychosocial determinants of physical distancing for the general public and for key socio-demographic sub-groups (e.g., young adults, older adults, etc.)?; (2) Do current Government of Ireland COVID-19 physical distancing communications address the determinants of physical distancing?; and (3) How can communications be optimised and tailored to sub-groups to ensure maximum adherence to guidelines? These will be addressed by conducting three work packages (WPs). In WP1, we will work closely with the iCARE international study, which includes a large online survey of public responses to measures established to reduce and slow the spread of COVID-19, including physical distancing. We will analyse Irish data, comparing it to data from other countries, to identify the key psychosocial determinants of physical distancing behaviour. This will be followed by a qualitative study to explore in depth the barriers and facilitators of physical distancing behaviour among the Irish public (WP2). In WP3, we will conduct a content analysis and evidence mapping of current government messaging around physical distancing, to ensure the findings from this research feed into the development of ongoing communication and future messaging about physical distancing.

Nous analysons des données des cahiers PAM (Parlers des Alpes-Maritimes, Dalbera, 1994), provenant d’entrevues orales menées entre 1972 et 1981. Nous examinons les pronoms atones objets des différentes localités afin d’identifier les variations morphologiques à travers cette région ainsi que des systèmes pronominaux distincts. Nous comparons nos données avec celles des études antérieures, notamment les résultats de Dalbera (1985-1986, 1994) et de Sumien (2006). Nous constatons aussi une forme distincte (non syncrétique) pour le pronom datif à la troisième personne du pluriel, lor, que les locuteurs emploient dans seulement une des localités pour lesquelles nous avons des données, ainsi qu’une forme opaque, n’i’n, qui représente la fusion du pronom datif avec le pronom génitif dans la partie occidentale des Alpes-Maritimes. Nous comparons la distribution géographique de cette forme opaque n’i’n avec celle des systèmes pronominaux. We analyse data from the PAM (Parlers des Alpes-Maritimes, Dalbera, 1994) notebooks, which transcribe oral interviews conducted between 1972 and 1981. We examine unstressed object pronouns from different survey points in order to identify morphological variations across this region, as well as distinct pronominal systems. We compare our data with those from earlier studies, in particular the results from Dalbera (1985–1986, 1994) and from Sumien (2006). We also observe a distinct (non syncretic) form for the third person dative plural pronoun, lor, only used by speakers in just one of the points for which we have data, as well as an opaque form n’i’n, which represents the fusion of the dative pronoun with the genitive, in the western part of the Alpes-Maritimes department. We compare the geographic distribution of this opaque form n’i’n with those of other pronominal systems.

This paper explores the motivations behind the adoption of key renewable energy technologies in an early adopter market. Notwithstanding their social benefits, uptake of electric vehicles, heat pumps, and solar photovoltaic panels remains low, necessitating targeted measures to address this. We conducted a comprehensive survey of a nationally representative sample of Irish households and analysed this rich dataset using pairwise group comparisons and a factor analysis combined with a logit regression model. We found fundamental differences between adopters and non-adopters. Current adopters tend to be younger, more educated, of higher socio-economic status, and more likely to live in newer buildings of generous size than non-adopters. Environmental attitudes are an insufficient predictor of uptake - whilst non-adopters self-report as being more sustainable, adopters believe that their own decisions impact climate change. Importantly, social processes will be instrumental in future uptake. Word-of-mouth recommendation will matter greatly in communicating the use and benefits of technologies as evident from the significantly larger social networks that current adopters enjoy. Using these insights, policy incentives can be designed according to public preferences. Irish Research Council Science Foundation Ireland This item supersedes WP20/04 at http://hdl.handle.net/10197/11430 (withdrawn) ESB Networks Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment (Ireland) Geological Survey of Ireland Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland University College Dublin. School of Economics

This paper aims to understand what motivates the adoption of key renewable energy technologies (RET) in early adopter markets. Electrification of heat and transport, through the deployment of heat pumps, electric vehicles and solar photovoltaic panels, combined with renewable sources of electricity is a key strategy for policymakers to combat climate change. Notwithstanding their social benefits, uptake remains low. Thus, targeted policy measures are needed to address this. We conduct a survey of a nationally representative sample of Irish households to better understand the motivations behind RET adoption and find fundamental differences between adopters and non-adopters. Current adopters tend to be younger, highly educated, of higher socio-economic status, and are likely to live in newer buildings of generous size. While non-adopters self-report as being more sustainable, adopters appear to be stronger believers that their own decisions impact climate change. Thus, environmental attitudes are an insufficient predictor of uptake. Instead, poor understanding of new technologies often inhibits uptake. Word-of-mouth recommendation matters greatly in communicating the use and benefits of new technology as evident from the significantly larger social networks that adopters enjoy. With this information, a range of monetary and non-monetary policy incentives can be designed according to public preferences.