Carlow Regional Youth Services Ltd

Lobbying Organisation Carlow Regional Youth Services Ltd

Date published 12 Sep, 2019

Relevant Matter Matters involving public funds

Public Policy Area Children and Youth Affairs

Period 1 May, 2019 to 31 Aug, 2019

Specific Details The impact of the new National Childcare Scheme on future funding for Afterschools provision for disadvantaged children and families. The goal of these projects is to support vulnerable children to successfully complete their primary school education and remain in mainstream education and training

Intended results Some clarity as to the future of Afterschools Projects for vulnearble children and families where parents are not working or engaged in traing or education.

Name of person primarily responsible for lobbying on this activity Kathryn Wall CEO

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? CRYS Afterschools Projects caters for 60 vulnerable children every day, funded through CCSP. With the introduction of the new National Childcare Scheme, these children and families will not be eligible be for any funding for Afterschools. As the focus of the project is to support children and families to effectively complete primary school, the NCS will have a devastating impact on the service provided as it will force the project to close. This will result in 7 job losses and a loss of essential service to 60 vulnerable children and their families. How does the Minister of Children & Youth Affairs and the DCYA propose to fund afterschools provision for the very vulnerable children and their families?

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)

Emails to Public Representatives outlined above to highlight situation CRYS Afterschools Services is facing and to look for support in lobbying Minister of DCYA and Officials. Emails were also sent to Minister Zappone seeking clarity on how services for vulnerable children will be funded in the future

Phone call (6-10)

Phone calls to Public Representatives looking for support on the issues identified above

Lobby day (1)

Participated in Youth Work Ireland Political Briefing on Wednesday 15th May in Buswells Hotel, Dublin. Met with Senator Jennifer Murnane and Pat Deering TD to highlight issues facing us with future of Afterschools Project

Meeting (1)

Met with Paul Kehoe TD and Kieran Donohue FDYS, in his Constituency Office in Gorey to support FDYS as they seek support for similar issue. Meeting took place on Friday 31st May, 2019

Meeting (1)

Met with Officials from the DCYA and Senator Jennifer Murnane to highlight the impact that new NCS will have on Afterschools services for vulnerable children and the need to have an alternative fund for these projects. Meeting took place on Thursday 13th June, 2019.

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.

Katherine Zappone Minister (Department of Children and Youth Affairs)