Down Syndrome Ireland

Lobbying Organisation Down Syndrome Ireland

Date published 19 Jan, 2018

Relevant Matter Public policy or programme

Public Policy Area Justice and Equality

Period 1 Sep, 2017 to 31 Dec, 2017

Specific Details Highlight the issues of our members and the priorities for Down Syndrome Ireland

Intended results Increase awareness and promote policy and legislative changes to benefit people with Down syndrome and their families

Name of person primarily responsible for lobbying on this activity Gary Owens, CEO Down Syndrome Ireland, Cathy Gray, Head of Communications Down Syndrome Ireland

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)

Meeting took place in Leinster House. The areas that we highlighted to Minister McGrath were: 1.Personalised Budgets for adults with disabilities to give people with disabilities access to their own funding. 2.We called on the Government to introduce meaningful reforms to make it financially viable for a person with a disability to take up employment. 3.We asked the Minister to help employers employ people with disabilities. There is additional costs and support required and the financial incentives provided need to recognise that. 4. Funding for additional nurse specialists in Down syndrome across the lifespan 5. Access to Speech and Language Therapy in education settings

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.

Finian McGrath TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Finian McGrath Minister of State (Department of Health)

Finian McGrath Minister of State (Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection)