In this essay the author will discuss the development of Irish family policy. It will be addressed from the publication in 1998 of the report “Strengthening Families for Life”. A definition of family will also be given. It will also make the reader more aware of what family is and the different types of families that exist in today's society. It will examine changes and challenges for the family's future as well as relationship difficulties. Family policy will be defined and what its effects will be. This essay aims to give the reader a better overview of recent developments in Irish family policy. In today's society, a family is considered to be a group of two or even more who may be related by blood, adoption, in-laws or foster care, marriage and who usually live together in the same accommodation. It also takes into account newly married couples without children, single mothers or fathers with children, same-sex partners, couples with dependents, siblings living together, and several other types. One person in the family must be over the age of 15 (Australian Bureau of Statistics, 2006). Traditionally, a family was viewed as a support group consisting of two married individuals providing support, care, and stability to their biological children. It was what we called a nuclear family. However, in recent years, these two-parent families have become rarer. Blended and adoptive families have become increasingly popular. The extended family is made up of grandparents, uncles, aunts and cousins. In some families, the extended family may cohabit with a member of a nuclear family. This type of family is increasingly rare. More popular types have merged recently. Families such as stepfamilies, same-sex families...... middle of paper ......ly.ie/policy-campaigns/facts-figures/ [accessed April 20, 2014]. Family Life (2013). Healthy children.org [online], available: http://www.healthychildren.org/English/family-life/family-dynamics/types-of-families/Pages/Gay-and-Lesbian-Parents.aspx [accessed April 20, 2014].Family Structure (nd) unlimited [online], available: https://www.boundless.com/sociology/definition/family-structure/ [accessed April 20, 2014].Social security invests in human capital (nd) international social security association [online], available: http://www.issa.int/ [accessed April 20, 2014]. Farlex's free dictionary (2003) Single-parent families [online], available: http://www. thefreedictionary.com/one-parent+family [accessed 20 April 2014].TV3 (2013) Advice on “stepfamilies” [online], available: https://www.tv3.ie/ireland_am_article.php?article =103081 [accessed April 20 2014].