Rehab Group

Lobbying Organisation Rehab Group

Date published 01 Aug, 2019

Relevant Matter Matters involving public funds

Public Policy Area Health

Period 1 May, 2019 to 31 Aug, 2019

Specific Details Communication from Rehab Group staff, board members, people using Rehab Services, their friends, families to all public representatives regarding the significant funding deficit being experienced by RehabCare in the provision of services to more than 3,000 people with disabilities.

Intended results To secure additional funding for RehabCare services for 3,000 people with disabilities

Name of person primarily responsible for lobbying on this activity Kathleen O'Meara

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? Hello all, Please see attached our Campaign Toolkit which contains everything you need to support our campaign for additional funding for RehabCare. A meeting took place with the Minister for Health and Minister of State for Disability Issues and we have agreed to enter into a period of intensive discussion to find a solution. We will meet them again in a week’s time. This means the next week is crucial in our campaign. We want politicians throughout the country to hear about our services and how important they are in local communities. Get involved: There are a number of activities you can get involved in. It would be fantastic if as many people as possible could email their local TDs and Senators as soon as possible or visit their local constituency offices this coming Friday or Monday. A leaflet is included in the attached document for printing locally. TDs and Senators should be asked to raise the issue with the Minister for Health and the Minister of State for Disability Iss

Was this lobbying done on behalf of a client? No

Mass communications

Email All Oireachtas Members This is the suggested email which was used by those campaigning: Save RehabCare's Services I live in your constituency and I am very concerned about the future of the services provided by RehabCare in the local area. RehabCare supports 3,000 people with disabilities and their families every day but these services are now under threat because of substantial funding difficulties. Rehab’s Board has told the HSE that it will have to cease operations in 2020 unless urgent funding of €2 million is provided. This announcement was made after many years of negotiation with the HSE during which they weren’t able to provide enough additional funding to bridge the gap. This situation is causing enormous anxiety and concern for the people who depend on RehabCare’s day, residential and respite services every day. Rehab has met with the Minister for Health and the Minister of State for Disability Issues and a period of intensive discussion is currently ongoing. I am asking you to raise this issu

Email All Councillors Save RehabCare's Services I live in your constituency and I am very concerned about the future of the services provided by RehabCare in the local area. RehabCare supports 3,000 people with disabilities and their families every day but these services are now under threat because of substantial funding difficulties. Rehab’s Board has told the HSE that it will have to cease operations in 2020 unless urgent funding of €2 million is provided. This announcement was made after many years of negotiation with the HSE during which they weren’t able to provide enough additional funding to bridge the gap. This situation is causing enormous anxiety and concern for the people who depend on RehabCare’s day, residential and respite services every day. Rehab has met with the Minister for Health and the Minister of State for Disability Issues and a period of intensive discussion is currently ongoing. I am asking you to raise this issue urgently with the Minister for Health, Simon Harris TD and Minist

Meeting All Oireachtas Members Briefing for all TDs and Senators in the AV room of Leinster House, organised by Senator John Dolan, to highlight the need to resolve the significant funding deficit being experienced by RehabCare in the provision of services to more than 3,000 people with disabilities All Oireachtas members were invited.

Meeting All Councillors All councillors around the country were invited to come to their local RehabCare Centres for a briefing about the funding deficit for RehabCare

Phone call All Oireachtas Members Many Oireachtas members were phoned by people using RehabCare, their family and friends and staff members in relation to the funding deficit for RehabCare.

Phone call All Councillors Many Councillors were phoned by people using RehabCare, their family and friends and staff members in relation to the funding deficit for RehabCare.

Lobbying activity

The following activities occurred for this specific Subject Matter Area.

Meeting (1)

There was a meeting with Deputy Michael Lowry TD to brief him about the RehabCare funding deficit problem

Email (2-5)

A visit was organised for Catherine Connolly TD to Rehab Care, Cashla to meet with staff members and Jeff Smith, Board member, Rehab Group.

Meeting (1)

A visit was organised for Catherine Connolly TD to Rehab Care, Cashla to meet with staff members and Jeff Smith, Board member, Rehab Group.

Letter (2-5)

Letters were sent to Minister for Health, Simon Harris TD, and Minister of State Department of Health, Finian McGrath TD, regarding the intention of the Rehab Group Board to terminate contracts due to significant funding deficit experienced by RehabCare, which provides services to more than 3,000 people with disabilities.

Phone call (11-20)

There were follow up phone calls to Minister for Health, Simon Harris, Minister of State Department of Health, Finian McGrath and correspondence with Special Advisor Department of Health, Joanne Lonergan in relation to the RehabCare deficit problem and a request to secure funding for RehabCare services.

Meeting (2-5)

There were meetings with Minister for Health, Simon Harris, Minister of State Department of Health, Finian McGrath and correspondence with Special Advisor Department of Health, Joanne Lonergan in relation to the RehabCare deficit problem and a request to secure funding for RehabCare services.

Meeting (1)

There was a meeting with Deputy Margaret Murphy O'Mahony TD to brief her about the RehabCare funding deficit problem

Meeting (1)

There was a meeting with Deputy Louise O'Reilly TD to brief her about the RehabCare funding deficit problem

Meeting (1)

There was a meeting with Deputy Barry Cowan TD to brief him about the RehabCare funding deficit problem

Meeting (1)

There was a visit by Carol Nolan TD to RehabCare Tullamore, Co. Westmeath to meet with staff members to see firsthand the need to resolve the significant funding deficit being experienced by RehabCare.

Email (2-5)

There were emails sent to organise the visit by Carol Nolan TD to RehabCare Tullamore, Co. Westmeath to meet with staff members to see firsthand the need to resolve the significant funding deficit being experienced by RehabCare.

Meeting (1)

There was a meeting with Deputy Stephen Donnelly TD to brief him about the RehabCare funding deficit problem.

Email (2-5)

Emails were sent to organise the visit by Michael Collins TD to RehabCare, Bantry, Co. Kerry to meet with staff members to see firsthand the need to resolve the significant funding deficit being experienced by RehabCare.

Meeting (2-5)

There were a meeting with Deputy Alan Kelly TD to brief him about the RehabCare funding deficit problem.

Phone call (6-10)

There were phonecalls with Deputy Marcella Corcoran Kennedy, TD to brief her about the RehabCare funding deficit problem.

Email (6-10)

There were emails to Deputy Marcella Corcoran Kennedy, TD to brief her about the RehabCare funding deficit problem.

Phone call (2-5)

There were phonecalls with Deputy Jackie Cahill TD to brief him about the RehabCare funding deficit problem.

Email (2-5)

There were emails to Deputy Jackie Cahill TD to brief him about the RehabCare funding deficit problem.

Email (2-5)

There were emails to Deputy Hildegarde Naughton TD to brief her about the RehabCare funding deficit problem.

Phone call (2-5)

There were phonecalls with Deputy Hildegarde Naughton TD to brief her about the RehabCare funding deficit problem.

Email (2-5)

There were emails with Deputy Michael Lowry TD to brief him about the RehabCare funding deficit problem.

Phone call (2-5)

There were phonecalls with Deputy Michael Lowry TD to brief him about the RehabCare funding deficit problem.

Designated public officials lobbied

There were no DPOs directly lobbied during this return period on this specific Subject Matter Area.