Politician(s) lobbied: Maurice Quinlivan (TD), Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas; Micheál Carrigy (TD), Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas; Martin Daly (TD), Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas; Aisling Dempsey (TD), Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas; Séamus Healy (TD), Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas; Kiera Keogh (TD), Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas; Liam Quaide (TD), Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas; Gillian Toole (TD), Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas; Ruairí Ó Murchú (TD), Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas; Margaret Murphy O'Mahony (Senator), Seanad; Nikki Bradley (Senator), Seanad; Maria Byrne (Senator), Seanad; Tom Clonan (Senator), Seanad; Laura Harmon (Senator), Seanad
Intent: To advocate on behalf of the Occupational Therapy profession for amendments to the Disability Act 2005 that protect and strengthen the rights of disabled people and ensure Assessments of Need remain comprehensive, professionally informed and focused on identifying supports required for full and meaningful participation in society
Methods: Submission
Details by Method
Method not specified
AOTI submission to the Joint Oireachas Committee on Disability consultation on pre-legislative scrutiny of the General Scheme of the Disability (Amendment) Bill 2025.
Politician(s) lobbied: Elizabeth Canavan (Assistant Secretary), Department of the Taoiseach
Intent: Engage with the Department to understand the role of the Disability Unit and identify how AOTI can support the implementation of the Work Programme 2025-27. To explore the introduction of Apprenticeships for Occupational Therapy training in Ireland as a workforce planning solution.
Methods: Meeting
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Method not specified
AOTI representatives met with officials in the Department of the Taoiseach to discuss the Disability Unit's Work Programme 2025-27 and the delivery of Occupational Therapy services in children's disability services
Politician(s) lobbied: Jennifer Carroll MacNeill (Minister), Department of Health
Intent: Intended results:Chief HSCP Officer be a permanent role on par with CNO and CMO. Outstanding professions be added to the HSCP Professionals Act. Establish structures to enable doubling of HSCP student practice education placements given significant service pressures. Reverse the HSE Pay & Numbers Strategy. Government engage with the HSCPA to find solutions to HSCP recruitment and retention challenges, including advanced practice, enhanced career pathways and improving staffing capacity.
Methods: Meeting
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Method not specified
The Health and Social Care Professions Alliance (HSCPA)
Method not specified
of which AOTI is a member
Method not specified
met the Minister for Health on 27 August 2025 to discuss 3 key areas: the long-term plan for Chief HSCP Officer; the approach to regulation of HSCP professions not named in the HSCP Act; and HSCP workforce planning including Programme for Government commitment to double the graduates in several HSCP professions including Occupational Therapy.
Politician(s) lobbied: Norma Foley (Minister), Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth; Jennifer Carroll MacNeill (Minister), Department of Health; Hildegarde Naughton (Minister of State), Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth
Intent: We were seeking meaningful consultation on the draft protocol as it was our view that this did not happen. We were also seeking an urgent meeting with the Minister and the HSE to discuss our concerns and identify solutions to manage clinical risk, to ensure that the protocol is implementable for our members and to ensure appropriate assessment and intervention pathways for autistic people.
Methods: Letter
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Method not specified
Several professional bodies
Method not specified
including AOTI
Method not specified
wrote to the Minister for Children
Method not specified
Disability and Equality
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Ms. Norma Foley TD.
Method not specified
to highlight our collective concerns about the draft HSE Autism Assessment & Intervention Pathway Protocol
Politician(s) lobbied: Unknown
Intent: Unknown
Methods: Unknown
Details by Method
Method not specified
Unknown
Politician(s) lobbied: Bernard Gloster (Chief Executive Officer), Health Service Executive; Colm Henry (Chief Clinical Officer), Health Service Executive
Intent: The Work-Able Solutions project was funded under the Sláintecare Integration fund. AOTI wrote to highlight our concern that no commitment had been provided to funding of the service beyond the end of 2024. We sought ongoing funding to enable the mainstreaming of the effective service.
Methods: Email
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AOTI wrote to the Chief Executive Officer of the HSE and the Chief Clinical Officer about the Work-Able Solutions Occupational Therapy service.
Politician(s) lobbied: Unknown
Intent: Unknown
Methods: Unknown
Details by Method
Method not specified
Unknown
Politician(s) lobbied: Mary Butler (Minister of State), Department of Health
Intent: The appointment of an Occupational Therapist to the Commission on Care for Older People
Methods: Letter
Details by Method
Method not specified
AOTI wrote to the Minister Mary Butler regarding the Commission on Care for Older People
Politician(s) lobbied: Unknown
Intent: Unknown
Methods: Unknown
Details by Method
Method not specified
Unknown
Politician(s) lobbied: Stephen Donnelly (Minister), Department of Health
Intent: To have the Minister for Health attend the AOTI annual conference and deliver an opening address to delegates
Methods: Letter
Details by Method
Method not specified
AOTI wrote to the Minister for Health inviting him to deliver an opening address at our annual conference
