Relevant Matter
Legislation
Public Policy Area
Education and Training
Period
1 Sep, 2022 to 31 Dec, 2022
Specific Details
We lobbied government Ministers and Education Stakeholders in relation to three issues: 1) The rescinding of substitution cover for certain approved teacher leave, 2) the NCSE foisting their new legislative responsibilities for AON (Assessment of Need) onto school principals and 3) the review of the EPSEN ACT.
Intended results
We wished to highlight the impact of these issues on schools and pupils, we sought to reverse the rescinding of substitution cover for teacher approved leave as children are regularly missing out on having a teacher to cover their class (most especially pupils with additional needs), placing pressure on schools and pupils. We objected to the foisting of AON responsibilities on school principals & questioned the potential litigation, & we sought consultation in the EPSEN review.
Name of person primarily responsible for lobbying on this activity
Angela Dunne and NPF Admins
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?)
Yes
Current or Former Designated Public Official(s)
Michael Lowry (Currently employed as a DPO)
TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)
Mattie McGrath (Currently employed as a DPO)
TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)
Did you manage or direct a grassroots campaign?
Yes
What is the directive you gave to the grassroots campaigners?
Email the Minister and Education Stakeholders, and also local representatives with our statement or your own letter and ask them to be aware of its contents and respond accordingly.
Was this lobbying done on behalf of a client?
No
Mass communications
Email All Oireachtas Members
We sent emails to TDs regarding the rescinding of substitutable leave. Some TDs raised this issue in Parliamentary Qs in the Dáil.
We issued a statement regarding the Assessment of Need debacle which was sent to Minister's Foley and Madigan and also to education stakeholders.
We also made repeated calls on social media for a full and comprehensive review of the ESPEN Act which would include consultation with principal teachers on the ground. We also called for a review of the NCSE and how data is gathered from schools - calling specifically for a mechanism by which schools can report their current SEN caseload directly to the Dept of Education and NCSE(National Council for Special Education) via POD (Pupil online database).
Lobbying activity
No lobbying activity recorded during this return period on this specific Subject Matter Area.
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.
Norma Foley
Minister (Department of Education)
Josepha Madigan
Minister of State (Department of Education)