The Ark Childrens Cultural Centre CLG (The Ark)

Lobbying Organisation The Ark Childrens Cultural Centre CLG (The Ark)

Date published 20 Jan, 2022

Relevant Matter Legislation

Public Policy Area Arts

Period 1 Sep, 2021 to 31 Dec, 2021

Specific Details Written submission to the Joint Committee on Disability Matters outlining The Ark's experience of the systematic impediments to the full participation of disabled artists in the arts. It encouraged the Committee to investigate the apparent anomaly in Social Protection regulations which prevents artists in receipt of disability payments from taking up publicly funded grants, bursaries or residencies without impacting their entitlements.

Intended results Review of the apparent anomaly in the treatment of disabled artists in receipt of disability payments compared to disabled academics who can receive publicly funded scholarships or grants without impacting their entitlements since the recent introduction of Catherine’s Law. Change in Social Protection regulations to enable artists to pursue and receive publicly funded bursaries or grants without impacting their disability payments.

Name of person primarily responsible for lobbying on this activity Aideen Howard, Director of The Ark

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? No

Was this lobbying done on behalf of a client? No

Lobbying activity

The following activities occurred for this specific Subject Matter Area.

Submission (1)

Written submission made to the Oireachtas Joint Committee's secretariat for distribution to the Joint Committee on Disability Matters.

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.

Holly Cairns TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Seán Canney TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Emer Higgins TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Neasa Hourigan TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Michael Moynihan TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Jennifer Murnane O'Connor TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

John Paul Phelan TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Pauline Tully TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Violet Anne Wynne TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Alice-Mary Higgins Senator (Seanad)

Erin McGreehan Senator (Seanad)

Fiona O'Loughlin Senator (Seanad)

Mary Seery Kearney Senator (Seanad)