The Representative Church Body (The Representative Church Body)

Lobbying Organisation The Representative Church Body

Date published 20 Jan, 2026

Relevant Matter Matters involving public funds

Public Policy Area Education and Training

Period 1 Sep, 2025 to 31 Dec, 2025

Specific Details With regard to Budget 2026, seeking increases in funding for primary and secondary schools under Church of Ireland patronage.

Intended results Funding increases for primary and post primary schools, to include an increase in capitation; the extension of the free book scheme to post primary schools under Protestant patronage (fee charging); an increase in the primary level core management grant; and reductions in pupil teacher ratios.

Name of person primarily responsible for lobbying on this activity Dr Ken Fennelly

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)

Contact with the Minister's office to arrange the meeting time and date and organise the logistics of attendance. An email also set out the range of issues sought to be raised.

Meeting (1)

Meeting with the Minister for Education and Youth; Special Advisor Patrick Cluskey; Department official (PO). Meeting took place in Leinster House, Dublin. Agenda agreed in advance by email. Meeting was also attended by The Most Rev Dr Michael Jackson, Chairman, GS Board of Education (RI); Dr Ken Fennelly, Secretary, GS Board of Education (RI); Mrs Susan Ellis, Education Advisor to the GS Board of Education (RI).

Submission (1)

A submission was made to the Minister and Special Advisor on behalf of the GS Board of Education (RI) outlining the funding areas the Board was seeking increases on in Budget 2026. This submission was subsequently published on the Church of Ireland website and circulated widely among Church of Ireland primary school Boards of Management.

Letter (1)

A letter was sent to the Minister on behalf of all primary school management bodies seeking increases in funding and resources for all primary schools in Budget 2026.

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 Education)

Patrick Cluskey Adviser to Minister (Department of Education)

Bernie McNally Secretary General (Department of Education)

Cliodhna O’Neill Acting Assistant Secretary (Department of Education)