Federation of Optometrists and Dispensing Opticians (FODO - the Association for Eye Care Providers)

Lobbying Organisation Federation of Optometrists and Dispensing Opticians

Date published 13 Jan, 2020

Relevant Matter Public policy or programme

Public Policy Area Health

Period 1 Sep, 2019 to 31 Dec, 2019

Specific Details Primary eye care provision, eye health, the HSE's primary care eye services review group report, and the training of optometrists in Ireland

Intended results That more eye care services be provided outside of hospitals in community based optical practices, that the public's awareness of eye health issues improves, that more optical professionals be trained in Ireland.

Name of person primarily responsible for lobbying on this activity Peter Fogarty

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.

Letter (2-5)

Letter sent to Mr Simon Harris, Minister for Health, 10/12/2019, requesting support of Department of Health in review of funding arrangements for optometry degrees by Higher Education Authority

Letter (1)

Letter sent to Ms Heather Humphreys, Minister, for Business, Enterprise and Innovation, 16/12/2019, requesting that optometrists and dispensing opticians be reinstated on on the Critical Skills Occupations List.

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.

Simon Harris Minister (Department of Health)

Heather Humphreys Minister (Department of Business, Enterprise and Innovation)