Carlow Regional Youth Services Ltd

Lobbying Organisation Carlow Regional Youth Services Ltd

Date published 27 Sep, 2016

Relevant Matter Public policy or programme

Public Policy Area Children and Youth Affairs

Period 1 May, 2016 to 31 Aug, 2016

Specific Details Deaths of two 14 yr old young males in Carlow and the resulting difficulties in accessing youth mental health supports for young people in Carlow and insufficient funding for out of school counselling supports for Folliane Youth Counselling Service CRYS

Intended results Better co-ordination of and improved access to youth mental health supports and increased funding for Follaine Youth Counselling Service

Name of person primarily responsible for lobbying on this activity Kathryn Wall 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.

Meeting (2-5)

Met with Local TD Pat Deering in June in Montgomery House to highlight crisis in relation to accessing supports for young people in light of recent suicides - Dail question submitted as a result and to request a meeting with Minister Helen McEntee Met with Kathleen Funchion TD once in the Vault Youth Centre, 20th June, 2016, to highlight issues and request meeting with Minister for Children an Youth Affairs Katherine Zappone Met with Senator Jennifer Murnane, 12th July, 2016, to discuss issues and to request response from Simon Harris Minister for Health Met with local councillor Fintan Phelan, July 2016 who brought issue to Carlow County Council and wrote to TUSLA CEO Fred McBride re lack of supports for young people under 16 who self harm

Email (6-10)

Wrote to Marie Kennedy, TUSLA, at various points during summer, requesting a meeting to discuss current situation and look at possible solutions Wrote to Gerry Raleigh, NOSP, highlighting current situation and looking for support Wrote to Aileen Colley, Chief Officer HSE, highlighting current situation and requesting a meeting, Wrote to Tracey Nugent, Suicide Prevention Officer, HSE, highlighting current situation and looking for additional support

Meeting (1)

Met with Minister Helen McEntee in the Vault Youth Centre on 8th July to highlight issues, request additional funding and offer possible solutions to problems. Marie Kennedy TUSLA and Elizabeth Charles NEPS were present. Meeting also attended by Declan Callan Chairperson CRYS, Elaine Rowe Vice Chairperson, Leighann Ryan Senior Youth Worker and Kathryn Wall

Meeting (1)

Met with Aileen Colley and her Staff to discuss current situation and to discuss solutions, meeting took place in HSE Lacken, Kilkenny on Monday 4th July. Elizabeth Charles NEPS attended and CRYS reps were Mary Doyle and Elaine Rowe Board Members and Leighann Ryan and Kathryn Wall CRYS

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.

Fintan Phelan Councillor (Carlow County Council)

Pat Deering TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Katherine Zappone Minister (Department of Children and Youth Affairs)

Kathleen Funchion TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Jennifer Murnane O'Connor Senator (Seanad)