Rehab Group

Lobbying Organisation Rehab Group

Date published 20 Sep, 2019

Relevant Matter Matters involving public funds

Public Policy Area Education and Training

Period 1 May, 2019 to 31 Aug, 2019

Specific Details Decision by HSE to abolish the Rehabilitative Training Allowance for new entrants to Rehabilitative Training Programme from September 2019

Intended results Reversal of the decision and restoration of the allowance

Name of person primarily responsible for lobbying on this activity Kathleen O'Meara, DIrector of Communications, Public Affairs and Fundraising, the Rehab Group

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 contact their public representatives in order to lobby them to have the allowance restored.

Was this lobbying done on behalf of a client? No

Mass communications

Email All Oireachtas Members A mass email was devised and a link created to allow staff, service users, families and friends to send a letter, via email, to all the TDs and Senators in their constituency appealing for support for the reversal of the decision to abolish the RT allowance.

Lobbying activity

The following activities occurred for this specific Subject Matter Area.

Meeting (2-5)

Meetings in National Learning Network centres where staff or service users invited local representatives to attend to hear about the issue of the abolition of the RT allowance Swords National Learning Network held a meeting in August involving councillors and TDs. They are listed below. Bantry National Learning Network held a meeting attended by Councillors and TDs. They are listed below. Galway National Learning Network invited TDs, one attended, She is listed below.

Phone call (31-50)

Phone calls were made by staff, service users and families to members of the Oireachtas calling for the restoration of the allowance

Phone call (1)

Kathleen O'Meara phoned Deputy Alan Kelly, asking him to raise the issue

Informal communication (1)

Kathleen O'Meara raised the issue with him in the course of another conversation

Phone call (1)

Kathleen O'Meara phone Deputy Louise O'Reilly's office to ask for support for this issue

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.

Simon Harris Minister (Department of Health)

Jim Daly TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Margaret Murphy O'Mahony TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Michael Collins TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Danny Collins Councillor (Cork County Council)

Holly Cairns Councillor (Cork County Council)

Katie Murphy Councillor (Cork County Council)

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

John Dolan Senator (Seanad)

Joe O'Brien Councillor (Fingal County Council)

Brendan Ryan TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Seána Ó Rodaigh Councillor (Fingal County Council)

Michael Murphy Councillor (Cork County Council)

Catherine Connolly TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)