News

Epilepsy Ireland has just been awarded the “Improving Quality” (IQ) quality standard.

Improving Quality is a quality system developed specifically for small to medium-sized Community and Voluntary Sector Organisations. The standard has been awarded following an external assessment of our work, practices and impact in August.

IQ addresses all the essential areas necessary for the effective management and governance of a charity. Four elements are assessed:

A huge congratulations to Oliver Kilmartin, whose continued passion for raising awareness of epilepsy was acknowledged by the International Bureau for Epilepsy at the recent 34^th International Epilepsy Congress.

We are delighted to see Epilepsy Ireland supported research being featured across mainstream media today - with features included in RTÉ, The Irish Times, the Irish Examiner, the Irish Daily Mirror and the Irish Daily Mail. 

The research concerns whether untrained pet dogs can predict epileptic seizures and was conducted by Dr. Neil Powell of Queens University Belfast. 

Epilepsy Ireland have today written to the Minister for Social Protection, Deputy Heather Humphreys; Minister for Finance, Deputy Paschal Donohoe; and Minister for Public Expenditure & Reform, Deputy Michael McGrath outlining proposals regarding access to Free Travel for people with epilepsy.

We are seeking that the Ministers make provision in the upcoming budget to provide funding to the Department to make the Free Travel scheme more accessible for people with epilepsy.

We have published our ‘Use of funds’ statement for 2020 which outlines for our members, service users, donors and the public how we raise and use our income at Epilepsy Ireland. You can read the Use of Funds statement in full by visiting the 'Governance' section of our website.

Alongside the Irish Epilepsy League and the National Clinical Programme for Epilepsy, Epilepsy Ireland have issued further correspondence to the Minister for Health regarding outstanding issues with the Medical Cannabis Access Programme (MCAP).

Our ongoing campaign around access for Free Travel for people with epilepsy has been featured in the Neurological Alliance of Ireland’s 2022 pre-budget submission.

We believe our ask is extremely logical and simple given the unique challenges with travel that people with epilepsy can face due to the nature of their condition.

Our ask around Free Travel is included as follows:

For the 23^rd year, Epilepsy Ireland are currently enrolling students for their renowned Training for Success course in IT Sligo.

This QQI Level 5 course is specifically targeted at people with epilepsy whose educational or social development may have been impacted by their condition which in turn has affected their ability to gain employment or pursue further education.

Over the past week, there has been significant coverage around an issue we highlighted as part of National Epilepsy Week concerning the Medical Cannabis Access Programme.

Alongside our colleagues in OACS Ireland, we have written to the Minister for Health regarding the lack of progress on the key issues which we have been campaigning on in relation to Sodium Valproate (Epilim).

In our correspondence to the Minister, we have identified three issues which must be urgently addressed and which require a renewed focus on by the Minister & his Department officials. These are as follows: