Down Syndrome Ireland

Lobbying Organisation Down Syndrome Ireland

Date published 16 May, 2025

Relevant Matter Public policy or programme

Public Policy Area Education and Training

Period 1 Jan, 2025 to 30 Apr, 2025

Specific Details Meeting with Minster for Disability on education issues.

Intended results Addressing and responding to the needs of members of DSI in relation to: Speech and Language Therapy Assistants Programme DSI Data collection specific to numbers of students with Down syndrome in primary & post primary schools. Special Class allocation Issues arising from Psychological Assessments conducted by the National Educational Psychological Service (NEPS).

Name of person primarily responsible for lobbying on this activity Fidelma Brady, Will Cronin, Olive Buckeridge

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 (1)

Lobbying initiated by Dr Fidelma Brady (Head of Education). Meeting was attended by: Will Cronin – Interim CEO DSI, Olive Buckeridge - National Speech and Language Therapy Coordinator DSI. In person meeting in Leinster House on Wednesday April 9th at 3.30 pm.

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.

Hildegarde Naughton Minister of State (Department of Education)