SECAD Partnership CLG

Lobbying Organisation SECAD Partnership CLG

Date published 15 Jan, 2021

Relevant Matter Matters involving public funds

Public Policy Area Community

Period 1 Sep, 2020 to 31 Dec, 2020

Specific Details 1.The roll out of the new Local Employment Services (LES) across the country by the Department of Employment and Social Protection (DEASP). The roll out plan currently excludes Cork County. 2. The new LEADER 2021-2027 Programme and the Transitional LEADER Programme which will bridge the gap between the previous LEADER Programme and the new LEADER Programme.

Intended results 1. The inclusion of Cork County in the roll out of the new LES across the country by the DEASP. Sufficient funds for County Cork in both the Transitional LEADER Programme and the new LEADER 2021-2027 Programme. Cork County had its LEADER budget cut by up to 70% in the LEADER 2016-2020 Programme.

Name of person primarily responsible for lobbying on this activity Mr. Ryan Howard - CEO and Ms. Suzanne Kearney - Assistant CEO

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 was issued to An Taoiseach on 3/12/2020 from the CEOs of all LDCs in Cork County. The following are two requests made in the letter: 'We have two requests in this context: 1. That Cork County, because of its geographic spread with a population of over 350,000 – should be offered a separate ‘Lot / Area’ contract in line with other regions in the country. 2. That our rural Local Development Companies that operate in Cork County are allowed to tender for this contract as part of a collaborative / collective tender.'

Meeting (1)

SECAD's CEO (Ryan Howard) and SECAD's Assistant CEO (Suzanne Kearney) met with Minister Michael McGrath to discuss two matters. 1. LEADER 2021-2027 the Transitional LEADER Programme - to ensure that there will be sufficient funding for County Cork for the new LEADER Programme and the Transitional Programme which will be in place from the end of LEADER 2016-2020 and the new LEADER Programme. 2. To include Cork County in the roll out of the new Local Employment Services (LES) by the DEASP. In communications received to date Cork County is not included in the 'areas/lots' to be tendered.

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.

Micheál Martin An Taoiseach (Department of the Taoiseach)

Michael McGrath Minister (Department of Public Expenditure and Reform)