Volunteering Ireland (Volunteer Ireland)

Lobbying Organisation Volunteering Ireland

Date published 21 Sep, 2026

Relevant Matter Public policy or programme

Public Policy Area Community

Period 1 May. 2026 to 31 Aug. 2026

Specific Details Meeting with the Department of Health

Intended results • Increased recognition of volunteer community transport as an essential component of healthcare access. • Better understanding of the challenges facing volunteer transport providers. • Exploration of sustainable funding mechanisms for volunteer-led transport services. • Consideration of practical measures to address insurance, parking and training barriers. • Improved engagement between the Department of Health, the HSE and volunteer-involving organisations.

Name of person primarily responsible for lobbying on this activity Nina Arwitz

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.

Virtual Meeting (1)

Volunteer Ireland met with the Dep of Health to discuss volunteer community transport to discuss challenges experienced by medical charities providing the service, opportunities and proposed solutions.

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.

Jennifer Carroll MacNeill Minister (Department of Health)