AONTAS

Lobbying Organisation AONTAS

Date published 21 Jan, 2026

Relevant Matter Public policy or programme

Public Policy Area Education and Training

Period 1 Sep, 2025 to 31 Dec, 2025

Specific Details Community Education Against Disinformation Workbook and Community Education for Social Transformation Research Report Dissemination

Intended results Consider the recommendations outlined in these reports, especially regarding core funding and strategic partnerships in the delivery of policy objectives

Name of person primarily responsible for lobbying on this activity Conor Thompson

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

Mass communications

Email All TDs On the 6th of November 2025 an email was sent to all TDs to ask them to consider the relevance of community education to policy problems in Irish society.

Lobbying activity

The following activities occurred for this specific Subject Matter Area.

Email (6-10)

On the 6th of November 2025 an email was sent to relevant Ministers, Deputies who have shown an interest in adult and community education and key DPOs. We asked them to consider the relevance of community education to policy problems in Irish society and to support the sector as a response to these challenges

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.

Marian Harkin Minister of State (Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science)

James Lawless Minister (Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science)

Jen Cummins TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Erin McGreehan TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Brendan Smith TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Sorca Clarke TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Nessa White Executive Director (Solas)

Mary Liz Trant Executive Director (Solas)

Fiona O’Byrne Assistant Secretary (Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science)