Irish Penal Reform Trust

Lobbying Organisation Irish Penal Reform Trust

Date published 19 Jan, 2024

Relevant Matter Matters involving public funds

Public Policy Area Justice and Equality

Period 1 Sep, 2023 to 31 Dec, 2023

Specific Details A pre-budget submission was made to the Minister for Finance, the Minister for Public Expenditure, and the Minister for Justice.

Intended results To promote greater investment through Budget 2024 in areas of penal policy and reform. To raise awareness of alternatives to imprisonment and to highlight where investment and resourcing is needed in these areas.

Name of person primarily responsible for lobbying on this activity Saoirse Brady, Executive Director, IPRT

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

Mass communications

Email All Oireachtas Members The pre-budget submission was emailed to all members of the Oireachtas on 28 Sept 2023 for their information.

Lobbying activity

The following activities occurred for this specific Subject Matter Area.

Submission (1)

A pre-budget submission was made by IPRT to the Ministers (DPER, Finance & Justice) to advocate for greater investment in alternatives to imprisonment & improvement of prison conditions. Asks included an increase in funding for -(1) the Probation Service (to support greater capacity in Community Service), (2) the IPS to improved family contact, (3) to support community reintegration of women offenders, (4) increased addiction & psychological services, (5) an education allowance for prisoners.

Email (2-5)

The pre-budget submission was sent by the Executive Director to the Minister for Finance, the Minister for Public Expenditure, and the Minister for Justice for their information.

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.

Helen McEntee Minister (Department of Justice and Equality)

Michael McGrath Minister (Department of Finance)

Paschal Donohoe Minister (Department of Public Expenditure, NDP Delivery and Reform)