Dyspraxia Association of Ireland

Lobbying Organisation Dyspraxia Association of Ireland

Date published 18 May, 2018

Relevant Matter Matters involving public funds

Public Policy Area Community

Period 1 Jan, 2018 to 30 Apr, 2018

Specific Details Seeking information/education officer (new roles ) and Adult officer (new role ) along with larger office space in order to deliver services more effectively throughout Ireland and further empower parents with the tools to help them in dealing and managing dyspraxia/DCD with their children ,teens and adults .Larger office space is required to cater for volunteers and service users who come to see us .

Intended results Additional funding for three more employees .

Name of person primarily responsible for lobbying on this activity Harry Conway

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? to contact their local TD and raise our issues

Was this lobbying done on behalf of a client? No

Lobbying activity

The following activities occurred for this specific Subject Matter Area.

Meeting (2-5)

Meetings were held in Leinster House where our funding application for three new employees was explained . The addition of an Education Officer would allow us to provide greater assistance to parents and children affected by Dyspraxia/DCD. An Education Officer would guide the parent/carer through the services available at present, be it through the health system or through private services. They would be able to assist parents and children to understand the key elements of Dyspraxia/DCD. The Education Officer would link up with the HSE to provide a pathway for the parents/carers to existing services throughout the country. Another key area that needs to be addressed is training national and secondary school teachers in relation to the key indicators of a child having Dyspraxia/DCD. The Education Officer would be key to liaising with national schools to allow the organisation provide teachers with core skills with respect to helping such children to develop coping mechanisms.

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.

Finian McGrath TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

John Lahart TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

James Browne TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Micheál Martin TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Darragh O'Brien TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

John Halligan Minister of State (Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation)

Mary Butler TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)