Politician(s) lobbied: Simon Harris (Tánaiste and Minister), Department of Finance; Jack Chambers (Minister of State), Department of Public Expenditure, NDP Delivery and Reform
Intent: Greater adequacy in social protection payments, provided for in Budget 2027
Methods: Meeting
Details by Method
Meeting
Discussed the importance in investing in social protection, thresholds, means testing, investment in social infrastructure, community and voluntary sector funding.
Politician(s) lobbied: Oonagh Buckley (Secretary General), Department of Environment, Climate and Communications; Aine Doyle (Special Adviser), Department of Climate, Energy and the Environment; Darragh O'Brien (Minister), Department of Climate, Energy and the Environment
Intent: Improved measures around energy poverty and just transition
Methods: Meeting
Details by Method
Meeting
Presentation given to the National Energy Affordability Task Force on energy poverty on behalf of the Community and Voluntary Pillar.
Politician(s) lobbied: Teresa Leonard (Deputy Secretary), Department of Social Protection; Niall Egan (Assistant Secretary), Department of Social Protection; Rónán Hession (Assistant Secretary), Department of Social Protection
Intent: Improving supports for vulnerable households with rising inflation
Methods: Meeting
Details by Method
Meeting
Met as bilateral with Community and Voluntary Pillar and the Department of Social Protection to discuss how we can offer greater support for vunerable households.
Politician(s) lobbied: Colin Menton (Assistant Secretary), Department of Public Expenditure, NDP Delivery and Reform
Intent: Better understanding by DPER of inflationary pressures on low income households
Methods: Meeting
Details by Method
Meeting
Share current experience and concerns of poverty and cost of living, inflation and rises, and budget policy response needed from government to target supports
Politician(s) lobbied: Colm Kincaid (Director), Central Bank of Ireland
Intent: Increased awareness of impact of inflation on lower income households
Methods: Event / Reception
Details by Method
Event / Reception
Cost of living, impact of large bills on people with low income, consumers using credit to purchase everyday essentials through means such as Klarna a concern
Politician(s) lobbied: Nicky Carroll (Acting Director of Service), Cork City Council
Intent: Funding to carry out costed specific work for hostel accommodation
Methods: Meeting
Details by Method
Meeting
Met with officials to request funding for identified significant works required at Deerpark Hostel and St Vincent’s Hostel estimated at approx. €2m.
Politician(s) lobbied: Ciaran Lawler (Assistant Secretary), Department of Social Protection; John McKeon (Secretary General), Department of Social Protection; Niall Egan (Assistant Secretary), Department of Social Protection; Anne Marie Brooks (Assistant Secretary), Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth; John Hogan (Secretary General), Department of Finance; Teresa Leonard (Deputy Secretary), Department of Social Protection; Rónán Hession (Assistant Secretary), Department of Social Protection; Gráinne Weld (Special Adviser), Department of the Taoiseach
Intent: To disseminate the findings of the MESL annual update report and the associated evidence-based policy recommendations in the Pre-Budget Submission
Methods: Event / ReceptionEmail
Details by Method
Event / Reception
Attended the National Economic Dialogue, discussing MESL findings on needs for children, working-age and older adults.
Email
Email sent on 9th June to inform of upcoming publication of MESL 2026 report and Budget 2027 recommendations, and to invite to MESL seminar
Event / Reception
MESL seminar held on 18th JuneIncluded presentation from MESL Research Team on the cost of a MESL in 2026, giving an overview of the: - change in cost of the minimum essentials required to live with dignity - cumulative impact of inflation since 2020 on minimum living costs and income adequacy - assessment of adequacy of social welfare supports - examination of the impact of services and in-work supports - outlining key policy recommendations for Budget 2027.
Event / Reception
Participated in the Dept. of Social Protection's Pre-Budget Forum, 1st July, attending the Income Adequacy workshop to discuss the evidence based policy recommendations from the MESL for Budget 2027.
Politician(s) lobbied: Micheál Martin (An Taoiseach), Department of the Taoiseach; Simon Harris (Tánaiste and Minister), Department of Foreign Affairs; Darragh O'Brien (Minister), Department of Climate, Energy and the Environment; Hildegarde Naughton (Minister), Department of Education; Peter Burke (Minister), Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment; Dara Calleary (Minister), Department of Social Protection; James Browne (Minister), Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage; Jim O'Callaghan (Minister), Department of Justice; James Lawless (Minister), Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science; Jennifer Carroll MacNeill (Minister), Department of Health; Richard Boyd Barrett (TD), Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas; Ivana Bacik (TD), Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas; Holly Cairns (TD), Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas; Mary Lou McDonald (TD), Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas; Peadar Tóibín (TD), Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas; Michael Collins (TD), Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas
Intent: To ensure that all households have the income to ensure they can meet their minimum essential needs.
Methods: Letter
Details by Method
Letter
We sent a letter which included our submission and asked to meet with them soecifically to discuss our budgetary proposals for their area of responsibility.
Politician(s) lobbied: William Aird (TD), Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas; Malcolm Byrne (TD), Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas; Peter 'Chap' Cleere (TD), Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas; Pa Daly (TD), Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas; Pat the Cope Gallagher (TD), Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas; Sinéad Gibney (TD), Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas; Eoin Hayes (TD), Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas; Danny Healy-Rae (TD), Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas; Kiera Keogh (TD), Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas; Claire Kerrane (TD), Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas; Roderic O'Gorman (TD), Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas; Maurice Quinlivan (TD), Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas
Intent: To ensure that all households have the minimum essential income to meet their needs
Methods: Lobby day
Details by Method
Lobby day
Launch of our pre budget submission in Buswells Hotel on June 30th. All Oireachtas members were invited.
Politician(s) lobbied: Cliodhna O’Neill (Acting Assistant Secretary), Department of Education; Hildegarde Naughton (Minister of State), Department of Education
Intent: For the department of education take into account and act on where responsibility of eradicating the education gap for the pupils from lower socio-economic background
Methods: MeetingVirtual Meeting
Details by Method
Meeting
DEIS strategy Advisory Group meeting
Virtual Meeting
DEIS strategy Advisory Group meeting
