GIY Ireland (GIY Ireland CLG)

Lobbying Organisation GIY Ireland

Date published 21 Sep, 2022

Relevant Matter Public policy or programme

Public Policy Area Education and Training

Period 1 May, 2022 to 31 Aug, 2022

Specific Details Programme for Government; point 1.2: Theme 1 Action point 1.2 “Implement School Gardens"

Intended results Confirmation on planned activity to deliver this action point Recommendation of a food growing programme to support this PfG action

Name of person primarily responsible for lobbying on this activity Nell Ward

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 (1)

11th July. GIY sent an submission to the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education, Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science Reason for Submission: Recommendation for action under point 1.2 under the Programme For Government: Theme 1 Action point 1.2 “Implement School Gardens” Recommendations to the Committee: 1. Action by the Government to achieve the PfG commitments as outlined above through a public/private/philanthropic partnership with a leading social enterprise. 2. Recognition of the GROW At School (GAS) programme as a national food growing programme for Primary Schools under the Department of Education. 3. Ringfenced Departmental funding for GAS as a health, wellbeing & environmental initiative. 4. Support the Programme implementation, content development/curriculum alignment and impact measurement.

Letter (1)

20th July: Letter in response to letter received from Joint Oireachtas on Committee ( Ref: JCES~l-2022-(300] ) in response to GIY's submission and invitation to represent GROW At School at a round table session in Autumn on Mental Health Supports in Schools & Tertiary Education. GIY requested a copy of the Director General's responses to the recommendations outlined in the submission sent in July

Submission (1)

26th Aug. Submission in response to an invitation from the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education, Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science to submit a response . Reference: JCES-I-2022- [389] Submission objective: Recommendation for implementation of GROW At School as a national food growing programme for Primary Schools in Ireland in support of mental health and wellbeing. Adoption of the GROW At School programme as a national food growing programme for Primary Schools in order to deliver the Programme For Government action 2.1 objective. 2. Alignment of GROW At School programme content within the primary school curriculum by 2024 3. Support for programme evaluation to inform future programme development 4. Departmental funding for GAS as a health & wellbeing initiative. 5. Support for expansion of the GAS programme to post-primary school level

Email (1)

Invitation to Minister Mary Butler to launch the GAS Development fund in response to the invitation by the Oireachtas Committee on Education to appear at the Autumn session on Mental Health Supports in Schools & Tertiary Education. Event to be held at GROW HQ 21 July.

Event / Reception (1)

Launch of GROW AT School Development fund at GROW HQ, Dunmore Road, Waterford Attended by Minister Mary Butler who spoke at the event and Marcus O'Cathasaigh.

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.

Mary Butler Minister of State (Department of Health)

Paul Kehoe TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Marc Ó Cathasaigh TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)