AONTAS

Lobbying Organisation AONTAS

Date published 21 May, 2023

Relevant Matter Public policy or programme

Public Policy Area Education and Training

Period 1 Jan, 2023 to 30 Apr, 2023

Specific Details Jim Breslin and William Beausang were invited to a policy event on 06.03.23 about community education and communicated with before and after the event.

Intended results To highlight the valuable role of community education to DFHERIS and some of the challenges the sector faces (for example in relation to funding and the frontline issues that community education is responding to).

Name of person primarily responsible for lobbying on this activity Dearbháil Lawless

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)

Jim Breslin (Currently employed as a DPO) Secretary General (Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science)

William Beausang (Currently employed as a DPO) Assistant Secretary General (Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science)

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.

Lobby day (1)

Mr Breslin and Mr Beausang were sent invitations to an AONTAS event (6.3.23). This event explored the role of community education in our tertiary education system, and the challenges it faces. Mr Beausang was sent a policy briefing before the event and a number of emails to prepare him for the event. At the event, Mr. Beausang engaged in a number of discussions about the same topic. After the event he was sent a thank you email, which included statements about the value of community education.

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.

Jim Breslin Secretary General (Department of Further and Higher Education, Innovation and Science)

William Beausang Assistant Secretary (Department of Further and Higher Education, Innovation and Science)