Epilepsy Ireland

Lobbying Organisation Epilepsy Ireland

Date published 04 May, 2022

Relevant Matter Public policy or programme

Public Policy Area Education and Training

Period 1 Jan, 2022 to 30 Apr, 2022

Specific Details Seeking further information on proposed alternate sitting of Leaving Certificate exams, and the need to ensure needs of students with epilepsy are accommodated

Intended results That students with epilepsy who have a seizure prior to/ during an exam have access to the propsed accommodation and that the SEC would make provision for this.

Name of person primarily responsible for lobbying on this activity Patrick McGeoghegan - Advocacy & Communications Manager

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? On our website, we included a letter that our supporters could send to their local representatives about this matter.

Was this lobbying done on behalf of a client? No

Lobbying activity

The following activities occurred for this specific Subject Matter Area.

Email (6-10)

Seeking update from State Exams Commission/ Department of Education officials regarding further information on proposed alternate sitting; requesting meeting with Dept and SEC in our capacity as a relevant stakeholder.

Phone call (1)

Updated Deputy Jennifer Carroll MacNeill on this issue and seeking that she raise when opportunity allows.

Informal communication (2-5)

Text to Minister McConalogue seeking he raise this matter with Minister Foley.

Email (6-10)

Seeking that selected Deputies raise the matter in the Dáil or via written questions to get further information on this matter and highlight needs of students with epilepsy.

Virtual Meeting (1)

Met with State Exams Commission officials led by Richard Dolan virtually as part of their stakeholder engagement process on the alternate sitting of Leaving Cert exams

Letter (1)

Sent letter to Minister via email outlining our campaign and why students with epilepsy must be provided for in alternate sitting arrangements.

Email (1)

Seeking Oireachtas Committee on Education raise this matter and pursue.

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.

Richard Dolan Director of Operations (The State Examinations Commission)

Jennifer Carroll MacNeill TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Charlie McConalogue Minister (Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine)

Jennifer Murnane O'Connor TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Carol Nolan TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Norma Foley Minister (Department of Education)

Michael Lowry TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Patrick Costello TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Gary Gannon TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Ivana Bacik TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Paul Kehoe TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)