Daughters of Charity Community Services

Lobbying Organisation Daughters of Charity Community Services

Date published 11 May, 2021

Relevant Matter Matters involving public funds

Public Policy Area Education and Training

Period 1 Jan, 2021 to 30 Apr, 2021

Specific Details Funding for Early Years' Service

Intended results Changes to the National Childcare Scheme so that Community Childcare Services can receive adequate funding so that children from disadvantaged areas can continue to receive excellent early childhood education. Different system for Early Childhood education in Community Settings similar to the Deis system in schools to ensure that disadvantages children and families are guaranteed equal access for disadvantaged children and families to early childhood education.

Name of person primarily responsible for lobbying on this activity Mary Mc Phillips

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)

Mary Fitzpatrick (Former DPO) Senator (Seanad)

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 (11-20)

Emails sent to Mary Fitzpatrick on behalf of the DoCCS and Dublin Inner City Coop raising awareness of the issue and the affect of National Childcare Scheme on funding across all members of the Coop. Follow up emails to arrange meeting and between meetings. Further emails in advance of virtual meetings with Mary Fitzpatrick and Minister Roderic O'Gorman

Virtual Meeting (6-10)

Meetings with Mary Fitzpatrick to give overview of the current situation. Further virtual meetings with Mary Fitzpatrick to hear the results of her lobbying. Follow up virtual meetings with Minister O'Gorman and with civil servants on the issues.

Letter (2-5)

Letters send to the Taoiseach and the Minister O'Gorman from the Board of Directors of Daughters of Charity CLG to raise concerns re the NCS and vulnerable children and families.

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.

Mary Fitzpatrick Senator (Seanad)

Michael Martin An Taoiseach (Department of the Taoiseach)

Roderic O'Gorman Minister (Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth)