Children's Books Ireland CLG (Children's Books Ireland)

Lobbying Organisation Children's Books Ireland CLG

Date published 20 May, 2024

Relevant Matter Matters involving public funds

Public Policy Area Education and Training

Period 1 Jan, 2024 to 30 Apr, 2024

Specific Details We were asking for investment in school libraries and policies to support reading for joy for children and young people, locally, nationally, and in school communities

Intended results 1. Invest €60m in Budget 2025 in books for children and young people to read for joy in schools and school libraries 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 joy 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 Becky Long

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? No

Was this lobbying done on behalf of a client? No

Lobbying activity

The following activities occurred for this specific Subject Matter Area.

Email (2-5)

31st of January, 2024: Emailed Sorca Clarke (Sinn Fein) regarding meeting to discuss school library funding and reading for joy. Malcolm Byrne (Fianna Fail) regarding meeting to discuss government support for reading for joy in schools. Gary Gannon (Social Democrats) regarding meeting to discuss supporting cultures of reading for joy in school communities

Email (2-5)

8th February 2024 Follow up emails to Sorca Clarke (SF), Malcolm Byrne (FF), and Gary Gannon (SD) regarding previous emails about meeting to discuss reading for joy.

Email (2-5)

12th of February 2024 Confirmed meeting via email with Sorca Clarke (SF) for 21st February 2024 in Leinster House to discuss school libraries and cultures of reading for joy. Emailed Eamon Murphy (Policy Director, Social Democrats) to arrange meeting to discuss the SD's new programme for government and provision for reading for joy to be included

Phone call (1)

19th February 2024 Received a phone call from Eamon Murphy (Policy Director, Social Democrats) in response to an email regarding Children's Books Ireland's programme for government asks.

Meeting (1)

21st February 2024 Met with Sorca Clarke (SF Education Spokesperson) in Leinster House to discuss Children's Books Ireland's asks for future programme for government - emphasis on funding school libraries, supporting teachers, recognising and prioritising reading for joy in educational policy.

Meeting (1)

23rd February 2024 Met with Fianna Fail Senator Malcolm Byrne in Wexford Town to discuss cultures of reading for joy in schools and the possibility of reinstating the School Library Grant.

Email (2-5)

20th March 2024 Received an email from Eamon Murphy (Policy Director, Social Democrats) re Children's Books Ireland's stance on support for public libraries and responded on same day. Email thread continued on the 21st of March and 25th of March re language on public libraries for the party's manifesto.

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.

Sorca Clarke TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Malcolm Byrne Senator (Seanad)

Gary Gannon TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)