Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 31 March 2021
736. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the actions his Department is taking to implement the National LGBTI+ Inclusion Strategy 2019-2021; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17517/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe National LGBTI+ Inclusion Strategy 2019 - 2021 provides a framework for improving the lives of LGBTI+ people by enabling their full participation in Ireland's social, economic, cultural, and political life.
My Department plays a coordinating role in the implementation and monitoring of the Strategy. In this regard, I chair a monitoring Committee that comprises representatives of government departments, key public bodies, and NGOs, particularly those representing LGBTI+ people. The Group reviews implementation of the Strategy and assesses whether or not further action is required on specific issues.
The COVID-19 pandemic has caused some unavoidable delays in the implementation of some actions contained in the Strategy. In light of this, I recently extended the lifetime of the Strategy for a further year until the end of 2022.
The Strategy is a living document that will be modified as needs arise. In this context, it contains a commitment to a mid-term report which will be coordinated by my Department later in 2021.
An additional key action under the Strategy for which my Department is responsible is the LGBTI+ Communities Services Fund. This commitment was delivered on in late 2020 with the provision of funding of €700,000 for community based initiatives focused on inclusion, protection of rights and the improvement of the quality of life and wellbeing. This fund will continue and details of the 2021 programme will be announced shortly.
