Galway Autism Partnership CLG

Lobbying Organisation Galway Autism Partnership CLG

Date published 05 Jan, 2021

Relevant Matter Public policy or programme

Public Policy Area Children and Youth Affairs

Period 1 Sep, 2020 to 31 Dec, 2020

Specific Details On Friday 8th September, GAP Staff and Board met with Deputy Anne Rabbitte, Minister of State at the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth and at the Department of Health to update her on the work of our charity Galway Autism Partnership and to communicate the need for sustainable funding from the HSE. In July 2020, communications were made with local representatives in regards to extending the CE Scheme of Mr. John Grffin, the caretaker working with our charity.

Intended results Increased awareness of issues facing autistic people and families Sustainable funding for Charity Extension to CE Scheme for Mr. John Griffin

Name of person primarily responsible for lobbying on this activity Aisling Colreavy

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)

Anne Rabbitte (Currently employed as a DPO) Minister of State (Department of Children and Youth Affairs)

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.

Email (6-10)

Email to make introduction, offer congratulations on new position as Minister of State and invite to meet with staff and Board of GAP. Emails were sent to public representatives enquiring about the extension of the CE scheme for Mr. John Griffin.

Meeting (1)

Meeting was hosted at GAP House, 36, Laurel Park, Newcastle, Co. Galway. In attendance at the meeting were GAP staff Aisling Colreavy and Mary Kennedy, GAP Board Members Mags McDonagh and Danni Burke, Deputy Anne Rabbitte and Mary O'Donnell (CHO 2 General Manager Disability Services).

Phone call (2-5)

Follow up phone calls to clarify for minute meetings and outcomes of meeting. Phone calls made to to public representatives to follow up regarding the extension of the CE scheme for Mr. John Griffin. This extension was not granted.

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.

Anne Rabbitte Minister of State (Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth)

Éamon Ó Cuív TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Pauline O'Reilly Councillor (Galway City Council)

Hildegarde Naughton TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Noel Grealish TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Seán Kyne TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Catherine Connolly TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)