August 2025: Emails exchanged with Colm O'Conaill (Ass Sec Gen) discussing the provision of information on a number of topics, including inflationary pressures, pension auto-enrollment, housing, residential and respite services, vision and strategy, and service innovations for disability services. - EmailEmail from Alison Harnett (CEO) to Department officials providing feedback as part of her role on the Disability Stakeholders Group, responding to the draft monitoring report on the Action Plan for Disability 2024-2026 - Email
Intent: Funding in Budget 2026 to 1) Respond to unmet need for disability services, 2) Support necessary innovation, and 3) Enable disability service providers to deliver and expand services
Details: Calling for funding in Budget 2026 to respond to unmet need for disability services, support necessary innovation, and enable disability service providers to deliver and expand services
11th July 2025: Alison Harnett (NFVSP CEO) shared the National Federation's Pre-Budget Submissions 2026 with Colm O'Conaill (Ass Sec Gen). - Email28th May 2025: Alison Harnett (NFVSP) represented NFVSP Members at the Department of Children, Disability and Equality Pre-Budget Estimates event, including making a presentation to the meeting. During the session, the topics of unmet need for services, sustainability issues facing the voluntary sector, and innovation in service provision were discussed. - Event / ReceptionAt a meeting in with Minister Foley on 22 July to discuss the key issues facing people with disability and the services that support them, attended by Chairpersons of the National Federation members, Alison Harnett (CEO) presented the National Federation summary budget messages to the Minister - Meeting
7th August 2025: Alison Harnett (NFVSP CEO) sent an email to Colm O'Conaill (Ass Sec Gen) highlighting that Minister Chambers advised that a sectoral plan will be developed for each Department to implement the National Development Plan and that it would be useful if there could be a process for engagement in relation to the Sectoral Plan for disability. A reply was received indicating that engagement will be welcomed - Email
Intent: Immediate action to tackle the untenable financial risks faced by Section 38 and Section 39 disability service providers that deliver essential services to people with intellectual disabilities and autism
Details: Calling for immediate action to tackle the untenable financial risks faced by Section 38 and Section 39 disability service providers that deliver essential services to people with intellectual disabilities and autism
13th June 2025: Alison Harnett (NFVSP CEO) called Colm O'Conaill (Ass Sec Gen) to ask the date for the National Economic Dialogue Forum and to follow up on the meeting request contain in the Chairperson's letter. - Phone call13th June 2025: Series of texts exchanged between Alison Harnett (NFVSP CEO) and Colm O'Conaill (Ass Sec Gen) to ask the date for the National Economic Dialogue Forum and to follow up on the meeting request contain in the Chairperson's letter. - Informal communication16th May 2025: Alison Harnett (NFVSP CEO) shared a letter signed by Chairperson's of 28 NFVSP member organisations with Colm O'Connail & Kevin McCarthy outlining risks to their organisations' financial stability and the impact these issues have on people with disabilities. The letter requested a meeting to identify immediate actions. Emails with Colm O'Conaill and Kevin McCarthy's office responding to the letter and following up with the meeting request contained in the Chairperson's letter. - Email
Intent: Funding for disability measures in Budget 2026 (specific asks available at: https://www.disability-federation.ie/news/latest/2025/07/14/prebudget-submission-2026/)
17 individual/targeted emails sent on 15/07/25 to the Taoiseach, Tánaiste, and other select Ministers. - Email4 individual/targeted emails sent to: - Colm Ó Conaill (DCDE, Assistant Secretary - Disability Division)- Niall Brunnell (DCDE, Principal Officer - Disability Policy Unit)- Gerry Tully (HSE, Assistant National Director - Disability Services)- Aoife O'Donoghue (HSE, Head of Services for Disability) - EmailSummary and long version of DFI's Pre-Budget Submission 2025 available at: https://www.disability-federation.ie/news/latest/2025/07/14/prebudget-submission-2026/This link was included in the above mentioned mailouts. - Submission
A reception was held by the Irish representation to the UN, for the Irish delegation to the UN Conference of State Parties to the CRPD (10-12 June in New York). At a roundtable discussion, DFI delegates engaged with officials from the Department of Children, Disability and Equality and called for Government to address the cost of disability and other matters discussed. - Event / Reception
Intent: Seeking their support in our ask to have the Back to School allowance made available to all Foster Carers and not to be means tested. We attached the letter we sent to Minister Foley also.
Details: Communication to Full Committee on Children, Disability and Equality
Seeking Committee's support in our ask to have the Back to School allowance made available to all Foster Carers and not to be means tested. We attached the letter we sent to Minister Foley also. - Letter
Meeting of clients and staff with Minister Carroll MacNeill in the Dun Laoghaire services - MeetingMeeting of clients and staff with Minster Naughton at our Midlands service, Offaly. - MeetingNAI regional campaign launch - Virtual Meeting
