Disability Federation of Ireland

Lobbying Organisation Disability Federation of Ireland

Date published 19 Sep, 2025

Relevant Matter Matters involving public funds

Public Policy Area Justice and Equality

Period 1 May, 2025 to 31 Aug, 2025

Specific Details DFI Pre-Budget Submission 2026

Intended results Funding for disability measures in Budget 2026 (specific asks available at: https://www.disability-federation.ie/news/latest/2025/07/14/prebudget-submission-2026/)

Name of person primarily responsible for lobbying on this activity Elaine Teague, Emer Begley

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? Email sent to all DFI members on 16/07/25 encouraging organisations and disability activists to amplify DFI's online campaign by: - Contacting local TDs - Sharing lived experience videos on social media

Was this lobbying done on behalf of a client? No

Mass communications

Email All Oireachtas Members Emails sent on 15/07/25 to all members of the Oireachtas Committees on: - Disability Matters - Children and Equality - Education and Youth - Health Emails sent on 16/07/25 to: - Members of the Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Local Government and Heritage - Disability Spokespersons - Remaining members of the Dáil - Remaining members of the Seanad

Email All Councillors Email sent to all Councillors on 28/07/25, with link to DFI's Pre-Budget Submission (summary and long version). Highlighting key asks: - Strengthen and resource the Access Officer role. - Create and fund a new standardised disability inclusion programme. - Provide funding for Disability Friendly Housing Technical Advisor position to be dedicated, standalone roles. - Support meaningful engagement with people with disabilities and Disabled Person Organisations in local structures.

Lobbying activity

The following activities occurred for this specific Subject Matter Area.

Submission (2-5)

Summary and long version of DFI's Pre-Budget Submission 2025 available at: https://www.disability-federation.ie/news/latest/2025/07/14/prebudget-submission-2026/ This link was included in the above mentioned mailouts.

Email (11-20)

17 individual/targeted emails sent on 15/07/25 to the Taoiseach, Tánaiste, and other select Ministers.

Email (2-5)

4 individual/targeted emails sent to: - Colm Ó Conaill (DCDE, Assistant Secretary - Disability Division) - Niall Brunnell (DCDE, Principal Officer - Disability Policy Unit) - Gerry Tully (HSE, Assistant National Director - Disability Services) - Aoife O'Donoghue (HSE, Head of Services for Disability)

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.

Micheál Martin An Taoiseach (Department of the Taoiseach)

Simon Harris Tánaiste and Minister (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Jennifer Carroll MacNeill Minister (Department of Health)

Norma Foley Minister (Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth)

Helen McEntee Minister (Department of Education)

Jack Chambers Minister (Department of Public Expenditure, NDP Delivery and Reform)

Paschal Donohoe Minister (Department of Finance)

Dara Calleary Minister (Department of Social Protection, Community, Rural Development and the Islands)

James Browne Minister (Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage)

James Lawless Minister (Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science)

Darragh O'Brien Minister (Department of Transport)

Hildegarde Naughton Minister of State (Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth)

Michael Moynihan Minister of State (Department of Education)

Mary Butler Minister of State (Department of Health)

Kieran O'Donnell Minister of State (Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage)

Jerry Buttimer Minister of State (Department of Rural and Community Development)

John Cummins Minister of State (Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage)

Colm Ó Conaill Assistant Secretary (Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth)

Gerry Tully Head Of Operations (Health Service Executive)

Aoife O'Donohue Assistant Director General (Health Service Executive)