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Local Government Reform

Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 10 November 2021

Wednesday, 10 November 2021

Questions (105)

Neale Richmond

Question:

105. Deputy Neale Richmond asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will report on the funding to help increase the diversity of candidates running in local elections; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55025/21]

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Written answers

My Department has undertaken a range of funding initiatives through our key partners, local authorities and political parties with the objective of promoting a local government that is more reflective of the diverse communities that it represents. 

In 2018, the Department engaged with the Immigrant Council of Ireland, where the Council outlined the very low level of migrant representation in local government. In order to begin to address this ongoing imbalance in the representation of migrants, in August 2019, funding of €7,950 was approved for the Council’s “Migrant Electoral Empowerment Project”, with a subsequent €24,090 issued in December 2020.

My Department's September 2021 call for funding to political parties directed applicants to submit proposals aimed at addressing the need for greater diversity as well as gender balance in local government. The call for funding also directed political parties to consult the Immigrant Council of Ireland’s research ‘The Experience of Migrant Candidates in the 2019 Local Election’ in making their applications. Proposals funded that specifically target minority groups include the recruitment of Diversity Officers, Diversity and Inclusion Officers, and running a party recruitment campaign targeting new members from migrant backgrounds, the travelling community and people with disabilities.

Similarly, for the past three years, my Department has issued an annual call for funding to all local authorities for projects that will help increase diversity in local government structures. Some of the projects funded this year that were aimed at minority groups include: “Workshops addressing a lack of knowledge and understanding about the political system amongst minority women to increase engagement in local politics” by South Dublin County Council and “An awareness campaign engaging with local women’s groups and groups representing people of diversity, highlighting the work of the council and the work of women councillors in particular” by Kerry County Council.

In addition, my Department provides funding to the organisation See Her Elected (SHE), which encourages women from different socio-economic, ethnic and religious backgrounds in the rural midlands and northwest to run for local election, and to Women for Election (WfE), which is a non-partisan organisation working towards increasing diversity and gender balance in Irish politics.

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