Relevant Matter
Matters involving public funds
Public Policy Area
Education and Training
Period
1 Sep, 2023 to 31 Dec, 2023
Specific Details
We were asking for investment in school libraries and policies to support reading for pleasure for children and young people
Intended results
1. Invest €20m in Budget 2024 in books for children and young people to read for pleasure, building on the foundations laid in Budget 2022.
2. Establish a National Advisory Group on School Library Provision to develop a National Strategy for School Libraries, with the key aim of ensuring there is a School Library and a School Librarian in all Primary and Post Primary Schools by end of 2024, as recommended by the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education, Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science in its Reports on Leaving Certificate Reform and on Mental Health Supports in Schools.
3. In the interim, expand both the Junior Certificate School Programme (JCSP) Demonstration Library Project and JCSP Digital Library Service as an urgent national priority, as recommended in the same reports and as per the 2005 DEIS plan.
4. Ensure that reading for pleasure is at the heart of the upcoming National Literacy, Numeracy and Digital Literacy Strategy, in order to increase motivation and engagement in children and young people of all ages.
Name of person primarily responsible for lobbying on this activity
Elaina Ryan
Did any Designated Public Official(DPO) or former Designated Public Official(DPO) carry out lobbying activities on your behalf in relation to this return? You must include yourself, and answer Yes, if you are a current DPO or a DPO at any time in the past. (What is a Designated Public Official?)
No
Did you manage or direct a grassroots campaign?
Yes
What is the directive you gave to the grassroots campaigners?
1. Write to the Minister for Education and express your support for these essential measures so that every child and young person can reap the benefits that come with a lifelong love of reading.
2. Contact your local representatives and ask for their support. You can find a template letter on www.childrensbooksireland.ie
3. Share our campaign on social media with the hashtag #RightToBeAReader.
Was this lobbying done on behalf of a client?
No
Mass communications
Letter All Oireachtas Members
Flyer sent on 5th September to all TDs and Senators - details can be found at https://childrensbooksireland.ie/news-events/righttobeareader-school-library-campaign-2024
Email All Oireachtas Members
Email sent on 26 September to all TDs and Senators sharing our flyer asking for support for school libraries - details can be found at https://childrensbooksireland.ie/news-events/righttobeareader-school-library-campaign-2024
Lobbying activity
The following activities occurred for this specific Subject Matter Area.
Email (1)
Email on 8th September to the following to ask for their support for the results outlined above:
Deirdre Gillane
Simon Harris
Aine Doyle
Norma Foley
Catherine Martin
Roderic O'Gorman
Heather Humphreys
Malcolm Noonan
Phone call (1)
Received a phonecall from Sinn Fein Education spokesperson, Sorca Clarke, in relation to parlimentary questions regarding a review of the School Libraries Grant
Designated public officials lobbied
The following DPOs were lobbied during this return period on this specific Subject Matter Area. These DPOs were involved in at least one of the Lobbying Activities listed above, but not necessarily all of them.
As returns are specific to a Subject Matter Area the above Lobbying Activities may be associated with multiple returns.
Aine Doyle
Special Adviser (Department of Education)
Norma Foley
Minister (Department of Education)
Sorca Clarke
TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)
Deirdre Gillane
Chief of Staff (Department of the Taoiseach)
Simon Harris
Minister (Department of Further and Higher Education, Innovation and Science)
Catherine Martin
Minister (Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media)
Roderic O'Gorman
Minister (Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth)
Heather Humphreys
Minister (Department of Rural and Community Development)
Malcolm Noonan
TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)