Politician(s) lobbied: John Callinan (Secretary General), Department of the Taoiseach
Intent: Recognition of the potential for community education to address the objectives of the Shared Island fund in order to secure support for organisations on both side of the border
Methods: LetterEmail
Details by Method
Letter
One letter outlining the current situation with regard to funding cuts in Northern Ireland, and a request for a meeting to discuss Shared Island action.
Email
Request for a meeting to discuss matters relating to cross border collaboration for community education given the impact of the loss of Local Growth Funding on the sector in Northern Ireland.
Politician(s) lobbied: Deirdre McDonnell (Chief Executive Officer), Solas
Intent: Recognition for the value of community education for learners, and for the wider FET sector. ::Support for Learner Voice development throughout the wider FET sector.
Methods: EmailMeeting
Details by Method
Email
Emails to organise meeting with Deirdre McDonnell in advance of meeting on the 10th of April.
Meeting
One meeting on the 10th of April to discuss the role of AONTAS, highlight the value of community education and explore the opportunities to develop Learner Voice throughout the wider FET sector.
Politician(s) lobbied: James Lawless (Minister), Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science; Marian Harkin (Minister of State), Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science
Intent: Recognition for the role of community education as a key policy lever for priorities relating to lifelong learning and skills.::Sustainable funding for the sector in recognition of its contribution to policy goals
Methods: EmailEvent / Reception
Details by Method
Email
Invitation to attend the Annual Star Awards on the 6th of March sent to the Minister for FHERIS and the Minister of State for FHERIS. Sent on February the 10th.
Event / Reception
Minister Harkin attended the Star Awards on the 6th of March, and gave an address to the attendees.
Politician(s) lobbied: Marian Harkin (Minister of State), Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science
Intent: Visit to Cranmore Community Cooperative, Sligo::Sustainable Funding for Community Education.::Improvements to validation processes that support the engagement of small providers
Methods: EmailEvent / Reception
Details by Method
Email
Emails between the 3rd and the 5th of February to organise visit and share briefing materials on the impact of funding precarity of the sector and proposed solutions, as well amendments to validation processes
Event / Reception
Minister Harkin attended Cranmore Cooperative on Monday the 9th of February to attend a launch of a community resource and visit the community education centre to meet learners and staff.
Politician(s) lobbied: Lynn Boylan (MEP), European Parliament; Regina Doherty (MEP), European Parliament; Aodhán Ó Ríordáin (MEP), European Parliament; Nina Carberry (MEP), European Parliament; Barry Cowen (MEP), European Parliament; Luke Ming Flanagan (MEP), European Parliament; Ciaran Mullooly (MEP), European Parliament; Maria Walsh (MEP), European Parliament; Billy Kelleher (MEP), European Parliament; Michael McNamara (MEP), European Parliament; Cynthia Ní Mhurchú (MEP), European Parliament; Barry Andrews (MEP), European Parliament; Seán Kelly (MEP), European Parliament; Kathleen Funchion (TD), Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas; Kathleen Funchion (MEP), European Parliament
Intent: 1. Strengthen adult learning and citizenship objectives within Erasmus+ 2. Maintain and enhance support for civil society organisations as democratic actors 3. Ensure the MFF is adequate in real terms to meet Europe’s social and educational ambitions
Methods: Email
Details by Method
Email
Wrote to Irish MEPS to seek support for the revised Erasmus+ Programme within the Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF) 2028-2034 highlighting the importance of this programme to adult learning and citizenship objectives, and the importance of support for civil society organisations as democratic actors.
Politician(s) lobbied: Unknown
Intent: Recognition and Resourcing of the Sector
Methods: Virtual Meeting
Details by Method
Virtual Meeting
During an online webinar on the 17th of September we highlighted the message of our forthcoming campaign, Lifelong, Local and Life-changing we asked people who are involved with community education to contact their local councillors or TDs to share the message of our campaign and highlight the value of community education.
Politician(s) lobbied: Marian Harkin (Minister of State), Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science
Intent: Recognition of the challenges facing community education and support for resourcing the sector
Methods: EmailMeeting
Details by Method
Email
Emails were exchanged with Minister Harkins Parliamentary assistant between the 24th of October and 18th of December 2025 to advocate for and organise a site visit to a community education project in Mullingar on the 15th of December.
Meeting
On the 15th of December 2025 Minister Harkin met with Women's Community Projects, Women's Collective Ireland, Longford Women's Link and AONTAS in WCP Mullingar to discuss the challenges facing community education providers, and sectors needs for support.
Politician(s) lobbied: Frank Feighan (TD), Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas; Donna McGettigan (TD), Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas; Fionntán Ó Súilleabháin (TD), Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas; Mark Daly (Senator), Seanad; Laura Harmon (Senator), Seanad; Mike Kennelly (Senator), Seanad; Dee Ryan (Senator), Seanad; Pauline Tully (Senator), Seanad; Jen Cummins (TD), Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas; Erin McGreehan (TD), Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas; Eoghan Kenny (TD), Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas; John Connolly (TD), Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas; Michael Murphy (TD), Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas; Maeve O'Connell (TD), Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas; Brendan Smith (TD), Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas
Intent: Equality of access to apprenticeship opportunities, enhanced support for apprentices
Methods: EmailMeeting
Details by Method
Email
A follow up email was sent to members of the JFHERIS committee with additional information related to discussions at the committee in the 18th of November 2025.
Meeting
Attended the Joint Committee on Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science to present on matters relating to the ongoing development of the apprenticeship system including equality of access and adequate support for apprentices on November the 13th 2025.
Politician(s) lobbied: Marian Harkin (Minister of State), Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science; James Lawless (Minister), Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science; Jen Cummins (TD), Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas; Erin McGreehan (TD), Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas; Brendan Smith (TD), Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas; Sorca Clarke (TD), Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas; Nessa White (Executive Director), Solas; Mary Liz Trant (Executive Director), Solas; Fiona O’Byrne (Assistant Secretary), Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science
Intent: Consider the recommendations outlined in these reports, especially regarding core funding and strategic partnerships in the delivery of policy objectives
Methods: Email
Details by Method
Email
On the 6th of November 2025 an email was sent to relevant Ministers, Deputies who have shown an interest in adult and community education and key DPOs. We asked them to consider the relevance of community education to policy problems in Irish society and to support the sector as a response to these challenges
Politician(s) lobbied: James Lawless (Minister), Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science; Marian Harkin (Minister of State), Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science
Intent: Significantly increase overall investment in the Further Education and Training (FET) funding.::Ringfence and enhance funding for the community education sector::Reform learner financial supports across the FET system::Establish a national FET learner hardship fund
Methods: Email
Details by Method
Email
An email was sent to Ministers seeking support for AONTAS' Pre-Budget Submission asks. The opportunity to meet and discuss these asks was also requested.
