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 24 Sep, 2024

Relevant Matter Public policy or programme

Public Policy Area Housing

Period 1 May, 2024 to 31 Aug, 2024

Specific Details Increase supply of housing for people with disabilities and remove barriers facing people with disabilities when accessing housing and housing related supports

Intended results Increase supply of housing for people with disabilities and remove barriers facing people with disabilities when accessing housing and housing related supports

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? No

Was this lobbying done on behalf of a client? No

Lobbying activity

The following activities occurred for this specific Subject Matter Area.

Letter (1)

1st July 2024: A joint letter was sent to Minister Alan Dillon requesting a meeting to discuss resourcing for the Housing Strategy for Disabled People and how this will be featured in Budget. The letter also asked to discuss solutions to some urgent issues which are preventing disabled people from accessing housing and housing related supports. The letter was signed by representatives from AsIAm, DFI, Inclusion Ireland, the Irish Council for Social Housing, Mental Health Reform, NFVSP.

Email (2-5)

4th July 2024: Megan Leahy (NFVSP Administrative Officer) shared a Briefing document on housing for people with intellectual disabilities with the following politicians: Senator Seery Kearney, Sentator Carrigy, Deputy Costello and Deputy Hourigan, on foot of Oireachtas Disability Group meetings in Leinster House on 14 June 24.

Email (2-5)

4th July 2024: Megan Leahy (NFVSP Clerical Officer) shared a Briefing document on housing for people with intellectual disabilities. She also shared a research paper entitled "What explains regional variation in private providers out-of-area residential placement costs for people with intellectual disability in Ireland'. In the following weeks, emails about the topic of housing were exchanged with Deputy O'Dowd.

Email (1)

14 August 2024: Helena Connors (NFVSP Policy and Research Officer) sent a copy of a Briefing document on Housing for people with ID to Special Advisor Noel Byrne.

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.

Alan Dillon Minister of State (Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage)

Mary Seery Kearney Senator (Seanad)

Micheál Carrigy Senator (Seanad)

Patrick Costello TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Neasa Hourigan TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Fergus O'Dowd TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Noel Byrne Special Adviser (Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth)