UNICEF Ireland

Lobbying Organisation UNICEF Ireland

Date published 28 Nov, 2018

Relevant Matter Public policy or programme

Public Policy Area Education and Training

Period 1 Sep, 2018 to 31 Dec, 2018

Specific Details Lobbied on education inequality

Intended results Guarantee high-quality, early-childhood education and care to all children. Provide equity among students by individual assessments and provision of support services including breakfast clubs; homework clubs; after-school supports; mentoring programmes; and therapeutic interventions; Including for students attending non-DEIS schools. Tailored supports must be provided for children experiencing homelessness. Educational funding cuts imposed in 2011 need to be fully reversed, specifically and most urgently for the travelling community. Reduce the divide – Reduce the segregation of children with different family backgrounds into different schools. This can help to ensure that all children have equal opportunities Promote a gender mix - Ensure the equal engagement of boys and girls in all core subjects, paying attention to the gender mix of teachers and challenging gender stereotypes every step of the way. Produce more high-quality, cross-country, comparable evidence including longitudinal studies to fill knowledge gaps. Ensure that all schools have in place the appropriate procedures to monitor, identify and respond to attendance, participation and retention issues. Ensure better transparency in determining how and which schools qualify for DEIS support.

Name of person primarily responsible for lobbying on this activity Vivienne Parry

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)

Shared our Report Card 15 an Unfair Start on Education Inequality

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 Wall Assistant Secretary (Department of Education and Skills)

Joe McHugh Minister of State (Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht)

Alan Farrell TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Anne Rabbitte TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Brendan Howlin TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Bríd Smith TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Catherine Martin TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Catherine Noone Senator (Seanad)

Denise Mitchell TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Fintan Warfield Senator (Seanad)

Fiona O'Loughlin TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Jan O'Sullivan TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Joan Freeman Senator (Seanad)

John Halligan Minister of State (Department of Education and Skills)

Katherine Zappone Minister (Department of Children and Youth Affairs)

Kathleen Funchion TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Lynn Ruane Senator (Seanad)

Richard Boyd Barrett TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Seán Ó Foghlú Secretary General (Department of Education and Skills)

Dalton Tattan Assistant Secretary (Department of Education and Skills)

Ruth Carmody Assistant Secretary (Department of Education and Skills)