Association of Occupational Therapists of Ireland

Lobbying Organisation Association of Occupational Therapists of Ireland

Date published 21 Jan, 2021

Relevant Matter Public policy or programme

Public Policy Area Health

Period 1 Sep, 2020 to 31 Dec, 2020

Specific Details AOTI wrote to the Minister of State with Responsibility for Mental Health and Older People about a range of commitments regarding mental health and older people set out in the Programme for Government and in particular those relevant to the Occupational Therapy profession.

Intended results We sought a meeting with the Minister to discuss these aspects of the Programme for Government with a view to identifying ways that AOTI and our members could support their advancement.

Name of person primarily responsible for lobbying on this activity Odhrán Allen

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)

Specific commitments mentioned were: • Continue the implementation of Sláintecare and wider reforms • Establish a national committee to ensure successful implementation of the new mental health policy Sharing the Vision • Provide more occupational therapists to increase support to individuals with mental health concerns attending primary care services • Introduce a statutory scheme to support older people to live in their own homes • Increase homecare hours and expand Community Intervention Teams • Maintain support for the Housing Adaptation Grant Scheme.

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.

Mary Butler Minister of State (Department of Health)