National Federation of Voluntary Service Providers Supporting People with Intellectual Disability (National Federation of Voluntary Service Providers Supporting People with Intellectual Disability)

Lobbying Organisation National Federation of Voluntary Service Providers Supporting People with Intellectual Disability

Date published 22 Sep, 2025

Relevant Matter Matters involving public funds

Public Policy Area Budgetary matters

Period 1 May, 2025 to 31 Aug, 2025

Specific Details Calling for funding in Budget 2026 to respond to unmet need for disability services, support necessary innovation, and enable disability service providers to deliver and expand services

Intended results Funding in Budget 2026 to 1) Respond to unmet need for disability services, 2) Support necessary innovation, and 3) Enable disability service providers to deliver and expand services

Name of person primarily responsible for lobbying on this activity Alison Harnett, CEO National Federation of Voluntary Service Providers & Secretariat Team

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? National Federation coordinated with members to engage Oireachtas members in their own constituencies on the National Federation's Pre-Budget 2026 messages. The National Federation issued resources to support members: - Our 2026 Pre-Budget Submission - Template invitation letter to TDs & Senators inviting them to meetings to discuss Budget 2026 - Oireachtas member contact list - Accessible version of Submission

Was this lobbying done on behalf of a client? No

Mass communications

Email All Oireachtas Members National Federation coordinated with members to engage Oireachtas members in their own constituencies on the National Federation's Pre-Budget 2025 messages.

Lobbying activity

The following activities occurred for this specific Subject Matter Area.

Email (1)

11th July 2025: Alison Harnett (NFVSP CEO) shared the National Federation's Pre-Budget Submissions 2026 with Colm O'Conaill (Ass Sec Gen).

Event / Reception (1)

28th May 2025: Alison Harnett (NFVSP) represented NFVSP Members at the Department of Children, Disability and Equality Pre-Budget Estimates event, including making a presentation to the meeting. During the session, the topics of unmet need for services, sustainability issues facing the voluntary sector, and innovation in service provision were discussed.

Social Media (1)

Following the National Economic Dialogue Forum on 16th June which was attended by Alison Harnett (NVSP CEO) and Michael Hennessy (NFVSP Chairperson), Alison Harnett reposted a message by the Wheel on Linkedin. This post noted how the delivery of disability and other key social services could be expanded if the non-profit sector is adequately and sustainably resourced. Post tagged Minister Chambers.

Meeting (1)

At a meeting in with Minister Foley on 22 July to discuss the key issues facing people with disability and the services that support them, attended by Chairpersons of the National Federation members, Alison Harnett (CEO) presented the National Federation summary budget messages to the Minister

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.

Colm Ó Conaill Assistant Secretary (Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth)

Jack Chambers Minister (Department of Public Expenditure, NDP Delivery and Reform)

Norma Foley Minister (Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth)