Overwatch Report

Ability West

January–April

[Children and Youth Affairs] Development of St. Teresa's S.S.

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Martin Daly', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'}

Ability West

January–April

[Children and Youth Affairs] Support around expediting the new school for St. Teresa’s Special School and for support with the issues on the sight in the meantime

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Geraldine Donohue', 'role': 'Councillor (Galway County Council)'}

Ability West

January–April

[Children and Youth Affairs] Support around expediting the new school for St. Teresa’s Special School and for support with the issues on the sight in the meantime

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Dr Evelyn Francis Parsons', 'role': 'Councillor (Galway County Council)'}

Ability West

January–April

[Children and Youth Affairs] Support around expediting the new school for St. Teresa’s Special School and for support with the issues on the sight in the meantime

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Michael Moynihan', 'role': 'Minister of State (Department of Education)'}

Ability West

January–April

[Children and Youth Affairs] Correspondence with Minister for Education Hildegarde Naughton

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Hildegarde Naughton', 'role': 'Minister (Department of Education)'}

Ability West

January–April

[Development and Zoning] Meeting with Minister Naughton and Deputy Albert Dolan

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Albert Dolan', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'} {'name': 'Hildegarde Naughton', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'}

Ability West

May–August

[Public Expenditure and Reform] Telephone meeting with Dep. Albert Dolan in relation to the money ring fenced for the Toghermore project

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Albert Dolan', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'}

Ability West

May–August

[Public Expenditure and Reform] Correspondence with Sean Canney re: transport for Eoin Judge

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Seán Canney', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'}

Ability West

May–August

[Public Expenditure and Reform] Emails with Albert Dolan on Toghermore Project

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Albert Dolan', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'}

Ability West

September–December

[Public Expenditure and Reform] Correspondence with Minister Moynihan and his team - Requirement for additional space to provide classrooms in St. Oliver's Special School as school is now at full capacity.

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Michael Moynihan', 'role': 'Minister of State (Department of Education)'}

Ability West

January–April

[Children and Youth Affairs] Contacted Anne Rabbite to get update on funding that she said will be made available to Brooklodge ADS for a Sensory/Community garden in June 23.

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Anne Rabbitte', 'role': 'Minister (Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth)'}

Ability West

January–April

[Children and Youth Affairs] The 1 meter HSE Restriction still in place in Cois Na Coille Adult Day Service

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Anne Rabbitte', 'role': 'Minister (Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth)'}

Ability West

May–August

[Finance] Service user wished to seek clarification from Minister Anne Rabbitte if there would be funding available for her to return home. She service user currently lives in a group home.

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Anne Rabbitte', 'role': 'Minister (Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth)'}

Ability West

September–December

[Community] Public Meeting on future of Tuam's Toghermore site, hosted by Anne Rabbitte, Minister of State at the Department of Health and at the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Anne Rabbitte', 'role': 'Minister of State (Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth)'}

Ability West

September–December

[Employment] Alan Tennyson Behavioural Support Manager raised the issue of disparity between pay for Section 38 and Section 39 workers with Senator Tim Lombard.

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Tim Lombard', 'role': 'Senator (Seanad)'}

Ability West

January–April

[Budgetary matters] Meeting with representative for further discussion, following on from earlier correspondence regarding declining compliance with HIQA standards, insufficient funding and pay parity.

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Anne Rabbitte', 'role': 'Minister of State (Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth)'} {'name': 'Mairéad Farrell', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'} {'name': 'Éamon Ó Cuív', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'} {'name': 'Catherine Connolly', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'}

Ability West

January–April

[Housing] Housing situation for Glen Tolstsiakov

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Anne Rabbitte', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'}

Ability West

January–April

[Community] Restricted access to disabled Parking in Clifden

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Gerry King', 'role': 'Councillor (Galway County Council)'}

Ability West

January–April

[Public Expenditure and Reform] Notify local representatives of poor compliance with HIQA standards, confirmed by HIQA inspection reports. Identify contributing factor in the under-resourcing of Ability West services and issue of lack of pay parity for Ability West employees (Section 39 agency).

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Aisling Dolan', 'role': 'Senator (Seanad)'} {'name': 'Éamon Ó Cuív', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'} {'name': 'Catherine Connolly', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'} {'name': 'Ollie Crowe', 'role': 'Senator (Seanad)'} {'name': 'Eugene Murphy', 'role': 'Senator (Seanad)'} {'name': "Pauline O'Reilly", 'role': 'Senator (Seanad)'}

Ability West

May–August

[Local Government] Update regarding proposed pedestrian walkway we have requested outside our premises here in Liosban Industrial Estate.

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Niall McNelis', 'role': 'Councillor (Galway City Council)'}

Ability West

May–August

[Local Government] Lobbying in relation to current situation of footpath outside centre (Ability West – Milaoise ADS, Weir Road, Tuam, Co. Galway.)

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Anne Rabbitte', 'role': 'Minister (Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth)'}

Ability West

on behalf of Yes (client not named)

May–August

[Community] Advocating for support for an individual supported to move to a long term care facility.

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Anne Rabbitte', 'role': 'Minister (Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth)'}

Ability West

on behalf of Yes (client not named)

May–August

[Housing] Anne Cleary of Ability West wrote to Minister Anne Rabbitte requesting a meeting to discuss possible supports in relation to a service user whose family received an eviction notice from a private landlord and have to vacate their home after 14 years in residence. The landlord has indicated that he is willing to sell the house to Galway City Council, however, the two parties cannot agree a price.

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Anne Rabbitte', 'role': 'Minister (Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth)'}

Ability West

on behalf of Yes (client not named)

May–August

[Health] Meeting with councillor about the Regional Health Forum and recent questions raised in this forum about Ability West

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'John Connolly', 'role': 'Councillor (Galway City Council)'}

Ability West

September–December

[Employment] To raise awareness with public representatives around the issues pertaining to lack of pay parity between Section 38 and Section 39 Organisations

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Anne Rabbitte', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'} {'name': 'Peter Roche', 'role': 'Councillor (Galway County Council)'} {'name': 'Donagh Mark Killilea', 'role': 'Councillor (Galway County Council)'} {'name': 'Dáithí Ó Cualáin', 'role': 'Councillor (Galway County Council)'} {'name': 'Eddie Hoare', 'role': 'Councillor (Galway City Council)'} {'name': 'Paschal Donohoe', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'} + 33 more

Ability West

September–December

[Social Protection] A letter was issued to Minister Rabbitte requesting a meeting about possible supports for a service user Frankie Joe Flaherty White Whose family received an eviction notices from a Private Landlord to vacate their home after 14 years in residence. This was a follow up to a previous contact.

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Anne Rabbitte', 'role': 'Minister (Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth)'}

Ability West

September–December

[Employment] Lettter sent by Ability West Mountbellew Service Users with assistance from staff to TD Sean Canney expressing their dissatisfaction but unwavering support of the proposed planned Strike Action on Pay Parity which was threatened in October 2023.

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Seán Canney', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'}

Ability West

September–December

[Employment] Email send to public representations in relation to the Section 39 pay parity issue and impending strike that was threatened in October 2023

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Alan Cheevers', 'role': 'Councillor (Galway City Council)'} {'name': 'Michael John Crowe', 'role': 'Councillor (Galway City Council)'} {'name': 'Alan Curran', 'role': 'Councillor (Galway City Council)'} {'name': 'Noel Larkin', 'role': 'Councillor (Galway City Council)'} {'name': 'Declan McDonnell', 'role': 'Councillor (Galway City Council)'} {'name': "Terry O'Flaherty", 'role': 'Councillor (Galway City Council)'} + 163 more

Ability West

September–December

[Social Protection] A meeting took place between the CEO Audrey Pidgeon and Members of the Ability West Board, Anna Lawless, Breda Dolan, Ray Kelly and Jack King and Minister Anne Rabbitte to share some of the challenges being encountered by Ability West..

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Anne Rabbitte', 'role': 'Minister (Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth)'}

Ability West

September–December

[Social Protection] A follow up meeting meeting took place on 14th November 2023 between the CEO Audrey Pidgeon and members of the Ability West Board Breda Dolan and Ray Kelly and members of the Senior Management Team, John McHugo, Mary Callanan, Bryan Gallagher and Cristina Mendes.

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Anne Rabbitte', 'role': 'Minister (Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth)'}

Lobbying Tracker

Most Lobbied TDs