Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 20 September 2023
340. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Education to provide details on the measures her Department has taken to implement specific action points (details supplied) of the action plan to support the National LGBTI+ Inclusion Strategy 2019-2021. [40228/23]
View answerMy Department is committed to equality, diversity and inclusion (EDI) in respect of every member of staff including LGBTI+ staff members and in respect of the actions referred to by the Deputy I can confirm that the Human Resources (HR) Unit of the Department, is represented on the LGBT Staff Network, hosted by the Department of Justice, and coordinates staff participation in Dublin Pride. Pride flags are flown at our main office locations for the month of June as a very visible demonstration of our commitment to equality, diversity and inclusion for the LGBTI+ community. In addition the HR unit also organises talks and circulates resources relating to a wide range of EDI initiatives including issues relating specifically to LGBTI+ staff members and ensures that EDI matters are a core feature of any internal HR strategy documents.
In addition to the work within the Department, three actions in the strategy led by this Department have progressed. These actions aim to support the inclusion of LGBTI+ lives in the curriculum and the inclusion of LGBTI+ matters in the SPHE/RSE curriculum review. An action to promote the well-being of education personnel, including LGBTI+ personnel in the context of the implementation of the Well-being Policy Statement and Framework for Practice 2018-2023 is also progressed with the Well-being Employee Assistance Service (EAS) in place for all school staff.
Staff from my Department will now be feeding into a review of the strategy commissioned by Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth to help inform a successor strategy.
