Down Syndrome Ireland

Lobbying Organisation Down Syndrome Ireland

Date published 14 Jan, 2026

Relevant Matter Public policy or programme

Public Policy Area Children and Youth Affairs

Period 1 Sep, 2025 to 31 Dec, 2025

Specific Details Invitation to DSI Early Years Conference and Baby Booklet Launch

Intended results Ministers awareness of work being done by DSI in Early Years Support, and awareness of baby booklet for new parents.

Name of person primarily responsible for lobbying on this activity Aoife Flood

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.

Email (2-5)

Email invitation to Down Syndrome Ireland's Tell it Right conference on early years care. The event also included the launch of our Baby booklet for new parents. We invited ministers to attend and be part of the launch but they all declined or redirected to another department or official.

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.

Jennifer Carroll MacNeill Minister (Department of Health)

Norma Foley Minister (Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth)

Hildegarde Naughton Minister of State (Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth)