EPIC Empowering People in Care

Politician(s) lobbied: Claire Kerrane (TD), Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas

Intent: Engagement with EPIC's submission and proposed amendments to the Bill

Methods: Meeting

Politician(s) lobbied: Jim O'Callaghan (Minister), Department of Justice; Norma Foley (Minister), Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth

Intent: Need for a cross-government approach to identify and provide targeted and specialised supports to vulnerable and at-risk children and to their families, including earlier intervention where children are engaging in high-risk activity or substance abuse.

Methods: Letter

Politician(s) lobbied: Erin McGreehan (TD), Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas; Aisling Dempsey (TD), Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas; Mark Wall (TD), Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas; Daniel Ennis (TD), Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas; Lourda Scott (Councillor), Wicklow County Council; Roderic O'Gorman (TD), Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas; Claire Kerrane (TD), Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas; Kevin McCarthy (Secretary General), Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth; Norma Foley (Minister), Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth; Lara Hynes (Acting Assistant Secretary), Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth; David Moloney (Secretary General), Department of Public Expenditure and Reform; Jack Chambers (Minister), Department of Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform; Graham Doyle (Secretary General), Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage; Bernie McNally (Secretary General), Department of Education; Hildegarde Naughton (Minister), Department of Education; Colm O'Reardon (Secretary General), Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science; 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; Derek Tierney (Secretary General), Department of Health; Jennifer Carroll MacNeill (Minister), Department of Health; Mary Butler (Minister of State), Department of Health; John Hogan (Secretary General), Department of Finance; Simon Harris (Tánaiste and Minister), Department of Finance; Kate Duggan (Chief Executive Officer), Child and Family Agency (Tusla)

Intent: EPIC developed a pre-budget submission to contribute to government deliberations on Budget 2027 Submission seeks increased investment in Tusla and enhanced cross-government investment across Departments and State agencies in a range of services for children in care and young people with care experience, including in relation to housing, health, education, disability.

Methods: Email

Politician(s) lobbied: Norma Foley (Minister), Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth; Aidan Farrelly (TD), Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas; Claire Kerrane (TD), Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas; Aisling Dempsey (TD), Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas; Grace Boland (TD), Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas; John Connolly (TD), Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas; Emer Currie (TD), Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas; Charles Ward (TD), Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas; Nikki Bradley (Senator), Seanad; Nessa Cosgrove (Senator), Seanad; Mike Kennelly (Senator), Seanad; Sharon Keogan (Senator), Seanad; Margaret Murphy O'Mahony (Senator), Seanad; Keira Keogh (TD), Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas; Ruairí Ó Murchú (TD), Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas

Intent: We sought support from elected representatives for amendments to the Bill

Methods: EmailMeetingLetter

Politician(s) lobbied: Kate Duggan (Chief Executive Officer), Child and Family Agency (Tusla)

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.

Methods: Meeting

Politician(s) lobbied: Madeline Clarke (Chairperson), Child and Family Agency (Tusla)

Intent: Information exchange and highlight the policy and service priorities for EPIC.

Methods: Meeting

Politician(s) lobbied: Kate Duggan (Chief Executive Officer), Child and Family Agency (Tusla)

Intent: increase in aftercare payment, review of statutory criteria for aftercare, ::input from EPIC Youth Council into policy development

Methods: Meeting

Politician(s) lobbied: Ray Cunningham (Councillor), Dublin City Council; Eoin Ó Broin (TD), Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas

Intent: The retention of appropriate policy on the allocation of social housing for Care Experienced Young People.

Methods: Phone call

Politician(s) lobbied: Kate Duggan (Chief Executive Officer), Child and Family Agency (Tusla)

Intent: Information Exchange

Methods: Virtual Meeting

Politician(s) lobbied: Mary Hayes (Director of Services or Equivalent), Dublin City Council; Ray Cunningham (Councillor), Dublin City Council; Eoin Ó Broin (TD), Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas; Rory Hearne (TD), Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas

Intent: Support access for care leavers to priority allocations in Dublin City Council.

Methods: MeetingPhone callEmail