EPIC Empowering People in Care

Lobbying Organisation EPIC Empowering People in Care

Date published 21 Jan, 2026

Relevant Matter Public policy or programme

Public Policy Area Children and Youth Affairs

Period 1 Sep, 2025 to 31 Dec, 2025

Specific Details matters relating to aftercare policy eligibility, aftercare payment and and other policy issues related to children in care and young people with care experience

Intended results increase in aftercare payment, review of statutory criteria for aftercare, input from EPIC Youth Council into policy development

Name of person primarily responsible for lobbying on this activity Thomas McCarthy

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.

Meeting (1)

EPIC Youth Engagement and Participation Coordinator and members of EPIC Youth Council met with Kate Duggan in Tusla to discuss issues related to children in care including statutory eligibility criteria for aftercare and the need to increase the aftercare payment

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.

Kate Duggan Chief Executive Officer (Child and Family Agency (Tusla))