Children's Books Ireland CLG (Children's Books Ireland)

Lobbying Organisation Children's Books Ireland CLG

Date published 21 Sep, 2022

Relevant Matter Matters involving public funds

Public Policy Area Education and Training

Period 1 May, 2022 to 31 Aug, 2022

Specific Details We are asking that, in Budget 2023, the Department of Education: Maintain the €20m investment in books for children and young people, commit to a timeline on the recommendation of the Joint Committee on Education, Further & Higher Education, Research, Innovation & Science in its Report on Leaving Certificate Reform, in particular: All schools should have a School Library, School Librarian and full access to the School Digital Library Service, and to expand the number of JCSP libraries

Intended results Maintain the €20m investment in books for children and young people to read for pleasure Commit to a timeline on the recommendation of the Joint Committee on Education, Further & Higher Education, Research, Innovation & Science in its Report on Leaving Certificate Reform, in particular: All Primary and Post Primary Schools should have a School Library, School Librarian and full access to the School Digital Library Service. Expand the number of JCSP libraries in secondary schools from the existing 30 as per the 2005 DEIS plan.

Name of person primarily responsible for lobbying on this activity Elaina Ryan

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? Email your TD and local representatives using an email template, letting them know that you support the maintenance of the €20 million School Library Book Grant in Budget 2023. (Template here: https://childrensbooksireland.ie/news-events/letskeepreading-childrens-books-ireland-calls-maintenance-eu20m-school-library-book). Share the campaign on social media using the hashtag #LetsKeepReading.

Was this lobbying done on behalf of a client? No

Mass communications

Email All Oireachtas Members This email outlined our key asks ahead of Budget 2023: Maintain the €20m investment in books for children and young people to read for pleasure Commit to a timeline on the recommendation of the Joint Committee on Education, Further & Higher Education, Research, Innovation & Science in its Report on Leaving Certificate Reform, in particular: All Primary and Post Primary Schools should have a School Library, School Librarian and full access to the School Digital Library Service. Expand the number of JCSP libraries in secondary schools from the existing 30 as per the 2005 DEIS plan.

Letter All Oireachtas Members This flyer outlined our key asks ahead of Budget 2023: Maintain the €20m investment in books for children and young people to read for pleasure Commit to a timeline on the recommendation of the Joint Committee on Education, Further & Higher Education, Research, Innovation & Science in its Report on Leaving Certificate Reform, in particular: All Primary and Post Primary Schools should have a School Library, School Librarian and full access to the School Digital Library Service. Expand the number of JCSP libraries in secondary schools from the existing 30 as per the 2005 DEIS plan.

Lobbying activity

The following activities occurred for this specific Subject Matter Area.

Email (1)

Email sent 22 August 2022 to relevant Ministers and their Advisors as well as TDs and Senators who were supportive of last year's campaign, as detailed below.

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.

Michael McGrath Minister (Department of Public Expenditure and Reform)

Norma Foley Minister (Department of Education)

Paschal Donohoe Minister (Department of Finance)

Heather Humphreys Minister (Department of Rural and Community Development)

Catherine Martin Minister (Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media)

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

Malcolm Noonan Minister of State (Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage)

Joe O'Brien Minister of State (Department of Rural and Community Development)

Aengus Ó Snodaigh TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Alan Farrell TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Brendan Griffin TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Carol Nolan TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Colm Burke TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Cormac Devlin TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Dara Calleary TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Holly Cairns TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

James O'Connor TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Jennifer Whitmore TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

John Lahart TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Marian Harkin TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Mick Barry TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Neasa Hourigan TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Pádraig O'Sullivan TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Richard Boyd Barrett TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Marie Sherlock Senator (Seanad)

Deirdre Gillane Chief of Staff (Department of the Taoiseach)

Kevin Barrett Special Adviser (Department of Public Expenditure and Reform)

Aine Doyle Special Adviser (Department of Education)

Pauric McPhillips Special Adviser (Department of Rural and Community Development)

Niall O'Connor Special Adviser (Department of Rural and Community Development)

Fiona O'Connor Special Adviser (Department of Finance)

Tanya Warren Special Adviser (Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media)

Eoin Wilson Special Adviser (Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth)

Tom Sheppard Special Adviser (Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth)

Niamh Smyth TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Paul Kehoe TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)