Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 25 Jun 2002

Vol. 553 No. 5

Written Answers. - Gender Equality Policy.

Kathleen Lynch

Question:

100 Ms Lynch asked the Minister for Finance the progress made to date in the implementation of the recently launched Civil Service gender equality policy; the steps being taken to implement the objectives of the policy within his Department and the public service generally; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14507/02]

Minister for Finance (Mr. McCreevy)

The new policy sets out the Government's commitment to gender equality in the Civil Service. Under the policy, Departments are required to set strategic objectives and equality goals which will secure equality of opportunity for both male and female employees. The equality objectives must be included in departmental strategy statements.

There is a particular gender imbalance at management level. Women form 69% of staff in the lower grades, but make up only 23% at management grades. A main aim of the new gender equality policy is to increase women's representation at management level.

In the light of their strategic objectives, Departments must then go on to plan and implement a detailed programme of action in areas such as recruitment, promotion and training of staff.

To tackle the imbalance at management level, the Government set a target for the key assistant principal grade. Departments must work to ensure that, by 2005, 33% of assistant principal posts are filled by women. At present, women fill 27% of these posts. The aim is to have a larger number of women who can be promoted to the more senior levels.

Departments have set goals and targets and are planning how to achieve them. For example, the Department of Finance has drawn up a policy on equality and diversity which will be issued to staff shortly. Over the next five years and subject to the number of vacancies arising, the representation of women in the Department of Finance should increase from 28% to close to 35% in the assistant principal grade, and from 14% to close to 25% at the principal grade. Other Departments are adopting broadly similar strategies.

The equality unit in the Department of Finance has held a series of meetings with Departments and offices on the policy. The aim was to exchange ideas on how best to implement the policy. The unit is now preparing a short report which will summarise what Departments are doing and make proposals about what more could be done. The report will be circulated to all Departments.

These discussions have shown that Departments are implementing the policy effectively. I am confident that the policy will secure equality of opportunity for both men and women in the Civil Service and will also address the imbalance at management.