Bookselling Ireland

Lobbying Organisation Bookselling Ireland

Date published 18 Jan, 2024

Relevant Matter Public policy or programme

Public Policy Area Budgetary matters

Period 1 Sep, 2023 to 31 Dec, 2023

Specific Details Extension of Free Schoolbook Scheme to cover Secondary School Books up to Junior Cycle.

Intended results Support scheme to enable bookshops to survive loss of schoolbook business. Voucher scheme to be reconsidered.

Name of person primarily responsible for lobbying on this activity Dawn Behan, Chair of Bookselling Ireland

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)

One email to relevant Government ministers detailing the number of bookshop closures since the rollout of the Free Primary School Scheme and requesting a support scheme to allow bookshops to replace their existing school book business with alternatives.

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.

Catherine Martin Minister (Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media)

Simon Coveney Minister (Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment)

Neale Richmond Minister of State (Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment)

Norma Foley Minister (Department of Education)