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EAPN IRELAND NEWS

SOCIAL INCLUSION FORUM – CROKE PARK MAY 8th

The Community & Voluntary sector were out in force for the annual Social Inclusion Forum hosted by the Department of Social Protection on May 8th.  Preparations were undertaken  by EAPN along with our colleagues in Community Work Ireland, hosting workshops around the country, co-ordinating attendance and pulling together our proposals from that input ( read full report HERE). The title this year was ‘Reflecting on the Past and Informing the Future of the Roadmap for Social Inclusion 2020-2025’ focusing on the categories of Travellers & Roma, Children & Family, Disabled People, Older People, and  Building Inclusive Communities. At the event, our participants gave their direct experience of poverty & exclusion. More importantly, they outlined what needs to be done to address it. The frustration was very evident everywhere. People felt they had pointed out many times what needs to be done, but change is not happening on the ground. Eliminating poverty is entirely possible, but it is a choice. With continuing challenges resulting from the rising cost of living, and difficulty in accessing public services and housing, it is imperative that steps are taken to change direction. The only way exclusion can be tackled is by the state enabling autonomous, well resourced organisations, empowered to involve people at grassroots and community level. We redouble our efforts to that end!

Tackling Health Inequality – What needs to change?” – Hybrid Event in Carmichael House, 4 Brunswick St North and on Zoom  Thursday 26th June 11.45 

Save the Date for this important event with excellent speakers who will look how the design of our health system reinforces health inequality, the impact of private health insurance and private delivery, the underinvestment in mental health and the implementation of Sláintecare reforms.
 

Dr. Austin O’Carroll: A Dublin-based GP and the Medical Director and founder of Safetynet, an umbrella organization that provides primary care services to homeless individuals, the Romany community, and migrants. He is also the founder of the North Dublin City GP Training program (NDCGP), the first such program in Ireland and internationally to specifically train GPs to work with marginalized groups.

Roisin Shortall: Former TD between 1992 and 2024, founding joint leader of the Social Democrats from 2015 to 2023, Minister of State for Primary Care from 2011 to 2012 and Chair of the all-party Dáil Committee on the Future of Healthcare which published the Sláintecare Report in 2017 containing a long-term vision for health care and health policy, including the creation of a single tier public healthcare system.

STAFF CHANGES :
After 15 years working as our Finance & Administration Officer, Maureen Gondipon is retiring next month. We want to take this opportunity to thank Maureen for her all her years of dedicated service, her efficiency, friendliness, reliability, and for always going the extra mile. We know she will be sorely missed by all of our members, as we wish her a lengthy healthy retirement with plenty of travel & books 

LAST CALL – SUBMISSIONS FOR SOCIAL INCLUSION ROADMAP
One month to go for submissions to the Department of Social Protection on the next successor for ‘The Roadmap for Social Inclusion 2020 – 2025′. The closing date is June 30^th   You can read more about it HERE . This will be the cornerstone of policy in tackling poverty and social exclusion for the next number of years. It is vital that those who are excluded and marginalised are heard in the formulation and implementation of the new strategy. Let your voice be heard, we are encouraging applications from all members.

EAPN EUROPE NEWS

Earlier this month, the European Court of Auditors (ECA) published opinion 02/2025 concerning the legislative proposals to amend the regulations on the Just Transition Fund (JTF), the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF), the Cohesion Fund (CF), and the European Social Fund Plus (ESF+). These are important sources of funding designed to address poverty, exclusion and disadvantage. 
Now the European Commission proposes to change the system to enable cohesion policy resources to be re-allocated to newly defined EU priorities, one of which is defence. This will have profound implications on funding in the areas of social protection, The role of European Court of Auditors to not to question this decision. However, they flag certain risks and unclear aspects of the proposals that will affect the way they are applied.
Click here to read the opinion. 

OTHER NEWS

#AddThe10thAlliance

Well done Senator Chris Andrews, for presenting the Equality (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill in the Seanad this month, and for all of the Oireachtas members who support adding socio-economic disadvantage as a ground for discrimination under the Equality Act. Ten years on from the first piece of legislation tabled on this issue, it is really disappointing that the Government tabled an amendment to delay the vote for 12 months. We note & welcome the commitment of Government spokespersons during the debate that they plan to include socio-economic status as part of the Equality & Family leaves (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2025.  But it is long overdue and this inequality needs to be ended. We are watching and waiting, and EAPN Ireland along with other organisations in the #Add the 10th Alliance will not rest until this legislation is enacted. Please contact your local TD & Senator and ask for their support!

RURAL DEVELOPMENT POLICY CONSULTATION

 Consultation events were held, earlier this month,  in  Donegal, Gaillimh, Mayo and Waterford organised by the Department of Rural and Community Development  in relation to the new rural development policy 2026-2030. 

 If you have an opinion on the opportunities and challenges facing rural Ireland, why not drop along to one of the remaining events.

Register below and if you have any questions related to any of the events, please email rural.consultation@drcd.gov.ie.

Our Rural Future 2026-2030 Consultation Events 

Event	County	Date & Time	Venue	Registration Link
Rural Places	Meath	11 June 2025 10am – 1.30pm	Newgrange Hotel, Navan	Register here
Consultation Meeting	Cork	16 June 2025 6.30pm – 9pm	Charleville Park Hotel,	Register here
Consultation Meeting	Offaly	17 June 2025 6.30pm – 9pm	Tullamore Court Hotel,	Register here

Together for Public Alliance

DCU Early Childhood Research Centre a member of the Together for Public Alliance is hosting a seminar on Thurs 5^th June entitled Getting it Right: A Competent System of Early Childhood Education and Care, a cross-disciplinary seminar that will inspire a shared vision of early childhood education and care as an essential public good. It promises to be a really interesting day, If you’d like to register or find more details you can do so at: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/getting-it-right-a-competent-system-of-early-childhood-education-and-care-tickets-1360363226029