National Federation of Voluntary Service Providers Supporting People with Intellectual Disability (National Federation of Voluntary Service Providers Supporting People with Intellectual Disability)

Lobbying Organisation National Federation of Voluntary Service Providers Supporting People with Intellectual Disability

Date published 20 Jan, 2023

Relevant Matter Matters involving public funds

Public Policy Area Budgetary matters

Period 1 Sep, 2022 to 31 Dec, 2022

Specific Details Calling for funding in Budget 2023 to ensure the sustainability of vital services for people with Intellectual Disabilities

Intended results In Budget 2023 we called for funding necessary to ensure the sustainability of services for people with Intellectual Disabilities. In particular, we campaigned for 1) Significant investment to meet the urgent needs of people with intellectual disabilities and their families, as set out in the Disability Capacity Review, 2) The establishment of a Disability Workforce Planning Group and action on staffing, and 3) €20million to allow S39 intellectual disability services to bridge the pay gap.

Name of person primarily responsible for lobbying on this activity Alison Harnett & Secretariat Team

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 advised members to contact and meet with local representatives and TDs to provide them with the National Federations Pre-Budget Submission and provide local examples illustrating the key issues raised.

Was this lobbying done on behalf of a client? No

Mass communications

Email All Oireachtas Members We advised members via email to contact and meet with local representatives and TDs to provide them with the National Federations Pre-Budget Submission.

Social Media All Oireachtas Members We advised members to retweet the National Federation's Pre-Budget Submission on twitter.

Virtual Meeting All Oireachtas Members We hosted a virtual meeting with our membership and advised them to contact and meet their local representatives and provide them with the National Federation's Pre-Budget Submission.

Email All Oireachtas Members Post-Budget announcement, members were advised to continue raising key issues from the Pre-Budget Submission with their local representatives and request that their local representatives try to gain clarity on the breakdown of funding for the disability sector.

Lobbying activity

The following activities occurred for this specific Subject Matter Area.

Email (11-20)

The National Federation's Pre-Budget Submission was sent to Deputy Duncan Smith, Deputy Catherine Murphy, Deputy Holly Cairns, Deputy Pauline Tully, Minister Anne Rabbitte, Special Advisor Noel Byrne, Minister Stephen Donnelly, Special Advisor Susan Mitchell, Minister Roderic O'Gorman, and Minister Michael McGrath. This Pre-Budget Submission called for the funding necessary to ensure the sustainability of services for people with Intellectual Disabilities. In particular, we asked for 1) Significant investment to meet the urgent needs of people with intellectual disabilities and their families, as set out in the Disability Capacity Review, 2) The establishment of a Disability Workforce Planning Group and action on staffing, and 3) €20million to allow S39 intellectual disability services to bridge the pay gap which is causing an immediate threat to services.

Social Media (1)

The National Federation's Pre-Budget Submission was posted on twitter and the following DPOs were tagged: Minister Anne Rabbitte, Minister Micheal McGrath, Taoiseach Micheal Martin, Minister Roderic O'Gorman, Minister Stephen Donnelly, Deputy Pauline Tully, Deputy Duncan Smith, Deputy Catherine Murphy and Deputy Mary Lou McDonald.

Email (1)

Following the Budget announcement and information shared by Minister Rabbitte in the Dail, an email was sent to Anne Rabbitte (Noel Byrne was copied) asking for clarification on a number of issues relating to the money allocated to the Disability Sector in the Budget.

Informal communication (6-10)

A number of text messages were exchanged with Special Advisor Noel Byrne regarding issues relating to the implications of the Budget in the context of the Disability Capacity Review, Inflationary Pressures and Section 39 Pay Parity.

Social Media (6-10)

Retweeted the Disability Federation of Ireland's tweet sharing Sinn Fein's alternate budget which tagged David Cullinane. Retweeted Avista's Pre-Budget submission which tagged Niall Collins, Roderic O'Gorman, Jackie Cahill, Maurice Quinlivan, Neasa Hourigan, Mattie McGrath, and Leo Varadkar. Retweeted the Department of Children Equality Disability Integration and Youth which tagged Minister Roderic O'Gorman and Minister Anne Rabbitte concerning Budget 2023. Retweeted Minister Anne Rabbitte tweet containing further details on Budget 2023. Retweeted St Christopher Services Longford about pre-budget meetings which tagged Michael McGrath.

Phone call (2-5)

Calls were exchanged with Special Advisor Noel Byrne regarding issues relating to the implications of the Budget in the context of the Disability Capacity Review, Inflationary Pressures and Section 39 Pay Parity.

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.

Duncan Smith TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Catherine Murphy TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Holly Cairns TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Pauline Tully TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Michael McGrath Minister (Department of Public Expenditure and Reform)

Noel Byrne Special Adviser (Department of Health)

Stephen Donnelly Minister (Department of Health)

Susan Mitchell Special Adviser (Department of Health)

Roderic O'Gorman Minister (Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth)

Micheál Martin An Taoiseach (Department of the Taoiseach)

Mary Lou McDonald TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Paschal Donohoe Minister (Department of Finance)

Anne Rabbitte Minister of State (Department of Health)

David Cullinane TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Niall Collins Minister of State (Department of Further and Higher Education, Innovation and Science)

Jackie Cahill TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Maurice Quinlivan TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Mattie McGrath TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Leo Varadkar An Tánaiste (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Neasa Hourigan TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)