Maigue Rivers Trust (Maigue Rivers Trust CLG)

Lobbying Organisation Maigue Rivers Trust

Date published 21 Apr, 2022

Relevant Matter Matters involving public funds

Public Policy Area Environment

Period 1 Jan, 2022 to 30 Apr, 2022

Specific Details Requested an early review of the Pilot Rivers Trust Resilience Project and additional funding for the Maigue Rivers Trust to employ their one member of staff and cover core organisation costs. My second request/recommendation, is that the government departments need to provide multiannual funding opportunities that cover salary and core costs for eNGOs, especially River Trusts.

Intended results An early review of the pilot rivers trust resilience project. Depending on the review findings, we hope to secure additional funding to allow the work of the Maigue Rivers Trust to continue. Government departments to provide multiannual funding opportunities that cover salary and core costs for eNGOs, especially River Trusts.

Name of person primarily responsible for lobbying on this activity Elizabeth Gabbett, Maigue Rivers Trust Project Officer

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.

Email (2-5)

Separate emails were sent to Cllr Collins, Cllr Hartigan, TD Brian Leddin and TD Holly Cairns. The first request is that we (Maigue Rivers Trust) need the DHLGH to do an immediate review of the Resilience Pilot Project and grant sufficient funding for the coming 12 months in order to not lose all we have gained in the past two years. The second request/recommendation, is that the government departments need to provide multiannual funding opportunities that cover salary and core costs for eNGOs, especially River Trusts.

Meeting (1)

The Maigue Rivers Trust Chairperson and Project Officer met with Cllr Sean Hartigan and TD Brian Leddin in the Limerick Green Party Office to discuss the need for an early review of the DHLGH - LAWPRO funded Pilot Rivers Trust Resilience project.

Phone call (1)

The Maigue Rivers Trust Project Officer had a phone call with Cllr Bridie Collins to discuss a community engagement event. The Project officer informed Cllr Collins about the reduced funding for the Trust in the coming year and consequences for planned projects. The MRT project officer followed up the phone call with an email detailing the specifics of requests to the DHLGH.

Meeting (1)

Maigue Rivers Trust Project Officer met with MEP Grace O'Sullivan and her assistant in Limerick to discuss the need for local government and the EU LEADER programme to review the current rules for funding opportunities and allow for core costs and staff salary costs be included project applications by local community eNGOs, especially Rivers Trust.

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.

Sean Hartigan Councillor (Limerick City and County Council)

Brian Leddin TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Bridie Collins Councillor (Limerick City and County Council)

Niall Collins Minister of State (Department of Further and Higher Education, Innovation and Science)

Holly Cairns TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Grace O'Sullivan MEP (European Parliament)