Down Syndrome Ireland

Lobbying Organisation Down Syndrome Ireland

Date published 20 May, 2019

Relevant Matter Public policy or programme

Public Policy Area Education and Training

Period 1 Jan, 2019 to 30 Apr, 2019

Specific Details Please Don't Leave us Behind Education campaign. The campaign is two fold - DSI is calling on the Government to adequately resource and roll out a national training programme for teachers in mainstream schools and calling for July Provision for all children with Down syndrome in mainstream education settings.

Intended results The reinstatement of Individual Education Plans for children with Down syndrome and July Provision secured for children with Down syndrome.

Name of person primarily responsible for lobbying on this activity Fidelma Brady, DSI Education Officer, Nicola Hart, DSI Member Support Team leader and Cathy Gray, DSI Head of Communications and Public Affairs

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? We called on members to encourage their local elected representative to attend our briefing in Leinster House

Was this lobbying done on behalf of a client? No

Mass communications

Email All Oireachtas Members Down Syndrome Ireland, parents and children with Down syndrome spoke at a briefing in Leinster House in front of TDs and Senators hosted by Fianna Fail TD Niamh Smyth and Spokesperson on Disability Margaret Murphy O’Mahony asking ‘Please don’t leave us behind’ in Down Syndrome Ireland's campaign to ensure full inclusion in our nation’s classrooms. The call came after Teachers’ Unions the ASTI and TUI advised their members to stop implementing individualised education plans for students with additional needs, such as those with Down syndrome, due to a lack of funding and adequate training provided to their members. DSI is also calling for the July Provision programme, which provides funding to extend the school year for children with certain special needs, to be extended to all children with Down syndrome. DSI estimates that extending the programme to all children with Down syndrome would cost just €1m a year.

Lobbying activity

The following activities occurred for this specific Subject Matter Area.

Lobby day (1)

Down Syndrome Ireland, parents and children with Down syndrome spoke at a briefing in Leinster House in front of TDs and Senators hosted by Fianna Fail TD Niamh Smyth and Spokesperson on Disability Margaret Murphy O’Mahony asking ‘Please don’t leave us behind’ in Down Syndrome Ireland's campaign to ensure full inclusion in our nation’s classrooms. The call came after Teachers’ Unions the ASTI and TUI advised their members to stop implementing individualised education plans for students with additional needs, such as those with Down syndrome, due to a lack of funding and adequate training provided to their members. DSI is also calling for the July Provision programme, which provides funding to extend the school year for children with certain special needs, to be extended to all children with Down syndrome. DSI estimates that extending the programme to all children with Down syndrome would cost just €1m a year.

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.

Aindrias Moynihan TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Anne Rabbitte TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Bobby Aylward TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Catherine Connolly TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Danny Healy-Rae TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Dara Calleary TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Darragh O'Brien TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

David Stanton TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Éamon Ó Cuív TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Eamon Scanlon TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Finian McGrath TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Hildegarde Naughton TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Jackie Cahill TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Jan O'Sullivan TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

John Brassil TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Kevin O'Keeffe TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Marc MacSharry TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Margaret Murphy O'Mahony TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Mary Butler TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Maureen O'Sullivan TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Michael Fitzmaurice TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Michael Healy-Rae TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Michael McGrath TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Niamh Smyth Councillor (Cavan County Council)

Noel Grealish TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Pat Buckley Councillor (Cork County Council)

Pat the Cope Gallagher TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Paul Kehoe TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Peadar Tóibín TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Regina Doherty TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Seán Canney TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Tony McLoughlin TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Alice-Mary Higgins Senator (Seanad)

John Dolan Senator (Seanad)

Lorraine Clifford-Lee Senator (Seanad)

Maura Hopkins Senator (Seanad)

Rónán Mullen Senator (Seanad)