Lobbying Records (Page 1 of 29)
Association of Secondary Teachers, Ireland (ASTI)
2025-09-08
Intent: Consultation with Synge Street school community, including parents, teachers and students::Pause of plans in order to implement a fair consultation and decision-making process
Details: Decision to transition Synge Street CBS to a Gaelcholáiste
Officials: Hubert Loftus, Bernie McNally, Helen McEntee, Aengus Ó Snodaigh, Máire Devine, Jen Cummins, Catherine Ardagh, Jim O'Callaghan, ...
Methods: Politicians and Department of Education Representatives received letter from ASTI - Letter, Politicians and Department of Education Representatives informed of lunchtime protest by teachers and parents outside Synge Street CBS - Event / Reception
Hibernia College
2025-09-01
Intent: Seek any guidance on how our plans align or misalign with programme for government
Details: Meeting with Secretary General to outline our plans to expand into Allied Health Science and introduce postgraduate programmes in Speech & Language Therapy and Occupational Therapy
Officials: Bernie McNally
Methods: Outlined our plans to expand and launch new School of Allied Health Sciences and how that can fit with programme for government - Meeting
INTO - Irish National Teachers' Organisation
2025-07-17
Intent: Increase funding for primary and special schools.
Details: Increase funding for primary capitation grant and a reduction in class sizes.
Officials: Bernie McNally
Methods: Brief interaction at All Ireland Semi-Final, Sunday 13 July in Croke Park with John Boyle and Bernie McNally regarding funding for primary and special schools. - Informal communication
INTO - Irish National Teachers' Organisation
2025-06-03
Intent: 1.Review of usage of Croke Park Hours.2.Announcement of Teacher Supply measures including lifting of restrictions for substitution by teachers on career break/job-sharing, arrangements for teachers trained abroad to return here for Droichead and extension of pension abatement waiver for retired teachers willing to work as subs. Also measures for Irish medium education. 3.Publication of Occupational Injury Leave Circular and commitment to comprehensively review the Assault Leave Circular.::4. Need to communicate with system regarding plans for school closures for TPL and staff collaboration in 2025/26 school year relating to redeveloped curriculum and other initiatives. Important to signal support for NCCA document ‘Sustaining Systemwide Primary Curriculum Change’, the recommendations of which had been accepted by the last Minister and DE officials.5.Payment date to be confirmed for PME fee refunds.::6. Letter and money to go to 40 schools built by WBS to compensate principals who wer
Details: Following John Boyle General Secretary's meeting with Minister Helen McEntee, Aoife Conduit and Bernie McNally in February 2025, the Secretary General Bernie McNally sought the eight items INTO wanted to progress. The eight items are listed in the results section.
Officials: Bernie McNally
Methods: Email to Bernie McNally per her request for same. - Email
INTO - Irish National Teachers' Organisation
2025-06-03
Intent: Clarification on the Department of Education's plans for the payment of essential grants to primary schools.
Details: Following the launch of the new Climate Action Summer Works Scheme in March, INTO sought information regarding payment dates for the Minor Works Grant and the ICT Funding Grants.
Officials: Hubert Loftus, Bernie McNally
Methods: Three emails dated 13 March, 14 May and 21 May 2025 seeking an update on the dates of payment of grants. - Email
Crosscare
2025-06-03
Intent: The inclusion of youth workers in the recent WRC pay agreement.
Details: On 28 May 2025, Crosscare, Youth Work Ireland and Foroige wrote to Minister MacEntee (cc-ed Bernie McNally and Karl Duff) asking to meet re the inclusion of youth workers in the recent WRC pay agreement.
Officials: Bernie McNally, Helen McEntee
Methods: Letter
Inclusion Ireland
2025-05-21
Intent: Stakeholder engagement regarding Inclusion Ireland's policy concerns and proposals on inclusive education.
Details: Meeting the Secretary General of the Department of Education and Youth
Officials: Bernie McNally
Methods: Met at the Department of Education and Youth's headquarters on Marlborough Street, Dublin 1, D01 RC96 - Meeting
Social Innovation Growth Fund Ireland Limited trading as Rethink Ireland.
2025-05-21
Intent: Strengthen the partnership with DRCD, Build relationships with new Ministers and invite Minister Buttimer to speak at an upcoming Rethink Ireland event
Details: Discuss the Dormant Accounts Fund, role of social innovation and philanthropy and how Rethink Ireland can support policy
Officials: Jerry Buttimer, Dara Calleary, Bairbre Nic Aongusa, Bernie McNally, Cliodhna O’Neill
Methods: Email to request a meeting with Ministers and Department speak to the following key areas Strengthen the partnership with DRCD, Build relationships with new Ministers - Email, Invite Minister Buttimer to speak at an upcoming Rethink Ireland event delivered a speech and launched a report on behalf of Rethink Ireland -UNESCO and NUIG https://rethinkireland.ie/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/Why-Wellbeing-Matters-Youth-Report.pdfEvent: Why Wellbeing Matters: Evaluation of Rethink Ireland Education & Mental Health Funds 2017-2022 Date and Time: Wednesday, 9 April, 10.30am to 2.30pm Location: President’s Hall, The Law Society of Ireland, Blackhall Place, Dublin 7 - Event / Reception, To ask key department ofiicials from DRCD and Department of Education to speak at the launch of the report - Event / Reception
Irish Council for Psychotherapy
2025-05-21
Intent: Session Limitations is ICP’s central concern. Short-term psychotherapeutic support services are neither intended nor designed to address the psychological consequences of adverse & traumatic childhood experiences. Nor are they designed to identify & assess the different layers of psychological complexity within the student population. ICP want to be included in any emerging conversations; to contribute to the dialogue & make the case for the provision of psychotherapy in schools in Ireland.::To protect the high & rigorous standards of training; to approve the use of state-aided school funding to avail of the services of psychotherapists in private practice according to each school’s unique context, culture & environment; to amend the Value-Added Tax Consolidation Act 2010 to make psychotherapy services VAT exempt in line with services provided by other health & social care professions including those of psychologists. These remain priority issues for ICP.
Details: The ICP is a united group speaking on behalf of psychotherapists and psychotherapy training schools, which operate to rigorous standards of competence and professionalism. Funding for Wellbeing and Mental Health Supports in Post-Primary Schools / Department of Education Counselling in Primary School, ...
Officials: Helen McEntee, Helen McEntee, Bernie McNally, Bernie McNally, Jennifer Carroll MacNeill, Jennifer Carroll MacNeill, Mary Butler, Mary Butler
Methods: ICP CEO contacted Helen McEntee TD (Minister for Education and Youth) (Fine Gael) to seek a briefing meeting to discuss/progress ICP’s key issues & be included in any emerging conversations; to contribute to the dialogue & make the case for the provision of psychotherapy in Ireland’s schools. ICP CEO contacted Jennifer Carroll MacNeill TD (Minister for Health) (Fine Gael) & Mary Butler TD (Minister of State with Responsibility for Mental Health) (Fianna Fáil) to seek briefing meetings. - Letter, Stephen O’Brien (Private Secretary to Minister McEntee) outlined Neart - the new national programme of mental health & wellbeing resources & training for post-primary schools delivered by Jigsaw & developed by Jigsaw in partnership with NEPS & the Department of Education; guidance counsellors & the important role they fulfil within the post-primary school system; Strand 1 of the Counselling in Primary Schools; the focus of the counselling provided under the CPS-P (early intervention). - Email, Mary Butler TD (Minister of State with Responsibility for Mental Health) (Fianna Fáil) asked Amy Brennan (Private Secretary to Minister Butler) to acknowledge receipt of ICP’s correspondence & meeting request & that a further reply would issue as soon as possible. - Email
Irish Second-Level Students' Union (ISSU)
2025-05-21
Intent: Advancement of SCR and increase of Special Class Capt. Funding Rate. The introduction of SCR in line with the agreed timeframe and targeted supports for schools to aide in the introduction. Release of Sample Papers by April 2025, Introduction of an IT Support Grant to aid Senior Cycle Redevelopment, Increase to the Special Class Capitation Grant Rate, Introduction of a Reduced-Hours Scheme for students suffering with Long Covid, Financial Support, support for the Implementation of SCR. ::Importance of student voice in the Department's Statement of Strategy. Implementation of Senior Cycle Redevelopment
Details: Advancement of Senior Cycle Redevelopment and increase of Special Class Capitiation Funding Rate - Bilateral meeting and at ISSU Conference 2025
Officials: Yvonne Keating, Helen McEntee, Bernie McNally, Dalton Tattan
Methods: Email, Meeting, Event / Reception