Politician(s) lobbied: Cathal Crowe (TD), Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas; Claire Kerrane (TD), Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas
Intent: Informing politicians about the impact of adverse childhood experiences on children and their current and future health and wellbeing
Methods: Meeting
Details by Method
Meeting
Informing TDs about the issues facing families that we support across the country
Politician(s) lobbied: Kate Duggan (Chief Executive Officer), Child and Family Agency (Tusla); Kiera Keogh (TD), Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas
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.
Methods: EmailMeeting
Details by Method
Email
Contacted TDs where we have services in their constituencies to better inform them about the support we provide to their constituents.
Meeting
Met 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.
Meeting
Met with senior members of Tusla outlining benefits of increased funding for family support services
Politician(s) lobbied: Norma Foley (Minister), Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth; Kevin McCarthy (Secretary General), Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth; Kate Duggan (Chief Executive Officer), Child and Family Agency (Tusla); Colm Brophy (TD), Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas; Willie O'Dea (TD), Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas; Niall Collins (TD), Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas; Colm Burke (TD), Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas; Seamus McGrath (TD), Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas; Robert Troy (TD), Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas; Kevin Boxer Moran (TD), Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas; John Lahart (TD), Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas; Jack Chambers (TD), Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas; Jennifer Murnane O'Connor (TD), Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas; Peter Burke (TD), Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas; Micheál Carrigy (TD), Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas; Michael Lowry (TD), Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas; Catherine Ardagh (TD), Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas; John Clendennen (TD), Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas; John Cummins (TD), Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas; Paul McAuliffe (TD), Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas
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
Methods: EmailMeeting
Details by Method
Email
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.
Meeting
Held 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
Politician(s) lobbied: Kevin McCarthy (Secretary General), Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth; Lara Hynes (Acting Assistant Secretary), Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth
Intent: Enhance funding for organisations who are funded by Tusla but currently subsidising services through their own voluntary funds
Methods: Meeting
Details by Method
Meeting
Meeting with officials in the Department of Children to outline issue of insufficient funding for services for disadvantaged families
Politician(s) lobbied: Andrew Munro (Assistant Secretary), Department of Justice; James O'Connor (TD), Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas; Stephen Donnelly (TD), Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas
Intent: Better inform members of the oireachtas and civil servants about the issues facing the families we support and the need for increased funding to support services helping those families.
Methods: MeetingEvent / Reception
Details by Method
Meeting
Held a meeting with two TDs to discuss issues facing families we support in Cork.
Event / Reception
Held an event focused on children's experience of living in homes with domestic violence and abuse present. 20 children, all part of our empower kids programme, with lived experience spoke to guests on the day.
Politician(s) lobbied: Simon Harris (An Taoiseach), Department of the Taoiseach
Intent: Inform politicians about the need to improve financial supports for families struggling most to provide their children with basic necessities and reduce costs of going back to school
Methods: Letter
Details by Method
Letter
Wrote letter inviting Simon Harris to visit a service and discuss issues affecting the families we support
Politician(s) lobbied: Chris Andrews (TD), Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas
Intent: Raise awareness of the level of food insecurity and parental mental health, and the need for additional supports to be put into place so that children are not at risk of going without food or living in homes in which parents cannot focus on their needs.
Methods: Meeting
Details by Method
Meeting
Met with Christ Andrews to discuss his proposal to introduce a sporting/cultural voucher programme for children.
Politician(s) lobbied: Roderic O'Gorman (Minister), Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth; Helen McEntee (Minister), Department of Justice; James Browne (Minister of State), Department of Justice
Intent: Amending policies and introduction of new policies that would provide more help and supports to families with children who are facing adversities and challenges
Methods: Event / Reception
Details by Method
Event / Reception
Held the launch of an event around domestic violence and abuse and the impact it has on children, particularly in relation to coercive control. Invited Helen McEntee to attend. She had to cancel quite late and James Browne came in her place.
Politician(s) lobbied: Kevin McCarthy (Secretary General), Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth; Elizabeth Canavan (Assistant Secretary), Department of the Taoiseach; Lara Hynes (Acting Assistant Secretary), Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth
Intent: Improve supports for families facing adversity
Methods: EmailMeeting
Details by Method
Email
Emailed all members of the oireachtas a copy of a report on the cost of living and impact on children.
Email
Emailed all members of the oireachtas a copy of our back to school survey report. It highlights the need to address back to school costs, reduce financial struggles some parents face
Email
Emailed all members of the oireachtas a copy of our pre-budget submission, focused on introducing additional supports for families on low incomes, and increasing support services for those facing adversities.
Meeting
Met with Elizabeth Canavan to discuss the work of the child poverty and wellbeing programme.
Meeting
Our chief executive Suzanne Connolly met with Kevin McCarthy and Lara Hynes to introduce herself to the new Secretary General and outline some concerns regarding child protection issues
Politician(s) lobbied: Elizabeth Canavan (Assistant Secretary), Department of the Taoiseach; Leo Varadkar (Taoiseach), Department of the Taoiseach
Intent: Increase awareness of the problems low income parents are facing trying to provide themselves and their children with sufficient nutritious food. Additionally, wanted to allow parents the opportunity to discuss main issues they are facing and how the new child poverty and wellbeing unit could help alleviate those issues
Methods: MeetingEvent / Reception
Details by Method
Meeting
Brought Liz Canavan to our services in Finglas to see what joined up projects can achieve with whole communities over time.
Event / Reception
Held a briefing session in the AV room in Leinster House on our food poverty report for any representatives to attend
Meeting
Leo Varadkar was invited out to our service in Mulhuddart to talk to parents about issues they are facing and the moment and to hear about the sorts of support needs that they have
