The Wheel

Lobbying Organisation The Wheel

Date published 21 May, 2020

Relevant Matter Matters involving public funds

Public Policy Area Community

Period 1 Jan, 2020 to 30 Apr, 2020

Specific Details The Wheel made written submissions to the Department of Rural and Community Development highlighting the issues facing community and voluntary organisations, charities and social enterprises relating to income loss as a result of the COVID-19 crisis.

Intended results The allocation of a package of supports for community and voluntary organisations experiencing financial losses as a result of the COVID-19 crisis.

Name of person primarily responsible for lobbying on this activity Deirdre Garvey

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.

Submission (2-5)

Two submissions were made (one each in March and April). The submissions contained evidence of financial losses experienced by community and voluntary organisations, projected losses into the future and the impact that this is likely to have on the most vulnerable in society who rely on the work of these organisations, and proposed elements of a possible Resilience Fund for charities to enable them to survive the immediate period of reduced income from the COVID-19 requirements..

Email (2-5)

Emails were sent to the department officials below relating to the submissions and providing additional, supplementary information

Phone call (2-5)

Phonecalls took place with the officials concerned regarding the submissions to provide clarifications etc when required.

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.

Kevin McCarthy Secretary General (Department of Rural and Community Development)

Bairbre Nic Aongusa Assistant Secretary (Department of Rural and Community Development)

William Parnell Assistant Secretary (Department of Rural and Community Development)