The Union of Retail ,Bar and Administrative Workers

Lobbying Organisation The Union of Retail ,Bar and Administrative Workers

Date published 16 Sep, 2025

Relevant Matter Matters involving public funds

Public Policy Area Education and Training

Period 1 May, 2025 to 31 Aug, 2025

Specific Details Rural School Funding

Intended results Rural schools are a vital piece of education infrastructure in our communities and for many years they have been underfunded by the Dept in favour of larger schools in larger population centres. Such treatment is forcing parents to help pay for the schools to be able to provide basic services to children, going against their constitutional right to a free primary education. Mandate are seeking assurance that measures are implemented to deal with this very important issue for our local community.

Name of person primarily responsible for lobbying on this activity Jim Fuery, Interim General Secretary - Mandate Divisional Organisers

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? To seek assurances that Councillors and TDs proactively engage with central government to ensure that measures are implemented to deal with this very important issue for our local community. Communication sent between Jul-Aug 2025 from various Mandate Officials to Councillors and TDs listed.

Was this lobbying done on behalf of a client? No

Mass communications

Letter All Councillors Letter sent to Councillors 22 Jul, 24-25 Aug 2025.

Email All Councillors Email sent to Councillors 23 Jul 2025.

Letter All TDs Letter sent to TDs 22, 24-25 Jul 2025.

Email All TDs Email sent to TDs 23 Jul 2025.

Lobbying activity

The following activities occurred for this specific Subject Matter Area.

Meeting (2-5)

11 Aug 2025 - Meeting between Cllr. Dan McSweeney and Mandate. 23 Jul 2025 - Meeting between Cllr. Sammy Locke and Mandate. 11 Aug 2025 - Meeting between Minister Niall Collins TD, and Mandate. All are in support of the matter and committed to raise at next local meeting.

Phone call (2-5)

29 Aug 2025 - Phone call between Cllr. John Sheahan FG and Mandate. 20 Aug 2025 - Phone call between Cllr. Phil Bolger FG and Mandate. 12 Aug 2025 - Phone call between Cllr. Peter Doyle FG and Mandate. 11 Aug 2025 - Phone call between Cllr. Greg Conway FG and Mandate. 11 Aug 2025 - Phone call between Cllr. Noreen Stokes FG and Mandate. All are in support of the matter and committed to raise at next local meeting.

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.

Dan McSweeney Councillor (Limerick City and County Council)

Sam Locke Councillor (Kerry County Council)

John Sheahan Councillor (Limerick City and County Council)

Peter Doyle Councillor (Limerick City and County Council)

Gregory Conway Councillor (Limerick City and County Council)

Noreen Stokes Councillor (Limerick City and County Council)

Niall Collins Minister of State (Department of Justice)