Intent: To increase the awareness of the CEO of TUSLA of the issues being seen and support by EPIC and seek her support for resources to meet needs of children and young people in care.
Details: Met with CEO Kate Duggan to exchange information
Met Kate Duggan to exchange information first hand on the issues that EPIC is supporting children in care and care leavers with. Also raised our ongoing waiting list and EPIC's anxiety at not being able to respond to need. - Meeting
Intent: increase in aftercare payment, review of statutory criteria for aftercare, ::input from EPIC Youth Council into policy development
Details: matters relating to aftercare policy eligibility, aftercare payment and and other policy issues related to children in care and young people with care experience
EPIC Youth Engagement and Participation Coordinator and members of EPIC Youth Council met with Kate Duggan in Tusla to discuss issues related to children in care including statutory eligibility criteria for aftercare and the need to increase the aftercare payment - Meeting
Intent: Increased resources for children and young people exposed to high levels of abuse and neglect; safeguarding measures needed for children and young people at risk of abuse and neglect
Details: The need for resources for children and young people exposed to high levels of abuse and neglect
Intent: Increased funding for support services helping families struggling with adversities and children dealing with trauma resulting from those adversities. Additionally, wanted to increase financial supports for low income families and families experiencing poverty and deprivation.
Details: Increased parental support to vulnerable families
Contacted TDs where we have services in their constituencies to better inform them about the support we provide to their constituents. - EmailMet with Keira Keogh as Chair of Children's Committee to outline the services that Barnardos provides across the country and highlight some of the issues families we support are facing. - MeetingMet with senior members of Tusla outlining benefits of increased funding for family support services - Meeting
Intent: Invitation to research report: Foetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) in Ireland: Wellbeing, Living Experience, and The Need for Change on 09 September 2025 in RCSI Building, St Stephens Green, Dublin
Details: Invitation to FASD Ireland & RCSI Research Launch
Invitation to research report: Foetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) in Ireland: Wellbeing, Living Experience, and The Need for Change on 09 September 2025 in RCSI Building, St Stephens Green, Dublin - Email
Attended an Engagement on Special Care convened by Tusla in advance of the Publication of Report of the External Review Group on Special Care - Virtual Meeting
Intent: Improve funding for voluntary sector organisations supporting families experiencing disadvantage, making sure that more vulnerable children and their parents aren't left without supports. ::Increase targeted income supports for low incomes families and those most at risk of deprivation::Ensure government continues commitment to reduce cost of back to school for parents across the country
Details: Supports for families facing disadvantage
Emailed TDs where their constituencies overlap with our family support service areas to inform them of the support we provide to families in their constituencies and concerns around current levels of funding for the services. - EmailHeld meetings in local family support services between local staff and TDs to let them see first hand the support we offer to families, the issues that they face and current problems they need help with around their children and parenting - Meeting
