Social Innovation Growth Fund Ireland Limited trading as Rethink Ireland.

Lobbying Organisation Social Innovation Growth Fund Ireland Limited trading as Rethink Ireland.

Date published 21 Sep, 2020

Relevant Matter Public policy or programme

Public Policy Area Education and Training

Period 1 May, 2020 to 31 Aug, 2020

Specific Details A number of organisations that work in the youth mental health sector had particular concerns about the impact of COVID 19 on the mental health of children and young people in Ireland. Together we came up with recommendations to address the issue. Our endgame is for those recommendations to be considered and/or to inform the steps the government takes to support young people’s mental health at this time. Rethink Ireland Jessica Curtis is co-chair with Dr Shari McDaid.

Intended results in place additional supports in schools for children and young people’s mental health duringCOVIDin order to prevent recent distress from becoming severe, longer-term mental health difficulties.

Name of person primarily responsible for lobbying on this activity Jessica Curtis- Senior Fund Manager Rethink Ireland on behalf of The Children and Young People’s Mental Health COVID-19 Coalition

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.

Letter (1)

Letter sent to Minister for Education Norma Foley. Three priority actions which are in line with the Department of Education and Skills’ commitments under the new mental health policy Sharing the Vision: 1)Develop resources to enable parents to support children’s transition back to school 2)Resourcing primary tier mental health supports in schools 3)Invest in outdoor, covered classroom spaces to enable play therapy and study for vulnerable children

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.

Norma Foley Minister (Department of Education)