AONTAS

Lobbying Organisation AONTAS

Date published 18 Sep, 2017

Relevant Matter Public policy or programme

Public Policy Area Education and Training

Period 1 May, 2017 to 31 Aug, 2017

Specific Details AONTAS Advocacy Lead wrote Minister Bruton and Minister of State Halligan to preemptively discuss with them the issues of re-engagement and program validation fees from QQI and their impact upon the community education sector. These letters were subsequently followed up with communication as part of the 2018 pre-budget submission

Intended results A change in policy from government, specifically Quality and Qualifications Ireland (QQI) that would lead to a waiver for reengagement and program validation fees from voluntary and not-for profit community education providers, under authority of the Qualifications and Quality Assurance (Education and Training) Act 2012.

Name of person primarily responsible for lobbying on this activity Benjamin Hendriksen

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? Yes

What is the directive you gave to the grassroots campaigners? The grassroots of the AONTAS Community Education Network has been lobbying QQI and the Department of Education and Skills for several years to seek a waiver of these fees. AONTAS members were made aware of our letters and some have taken this issue up themselves for the purpose of lobbying.

Was this lobbying done on behalf of a client? No

Lobbying activity

The following activities occurred for this specific Subject Matter Area.

Letter (2-5)

The goal of these written letters to the Minister and Minister of State was to inform them of a specific issue that would be highlighted during the AONTAS pre-budget submission. The issue in question; QQI fees for re-engagement and program validation are of particular import for AONTAS members and therefore the letters provided a special opportunity to highlight these issues to the Minister and Minister of State responsible

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.

Richard Bruton Minister (Department of Education and Skills)

John Halligan Minister of State (Department of Education and Skills)