John Curran (Dublin Mid West, Fianna Fail)
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Question 411: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if he will consider establishing anti-racism networks at local authority level; the likely cost of establishing such networks; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12037/05]

Michael McDowell (Dublin South East, Progressive Democrats)
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I draw the attention of the Deputy to the recently launched national action plan against racism, which was prepared in my Department, which recommends the development of anti-racism and diversity plans at city and county level to assist with the implementation of the plan. Recommended measures identified in the plan include the development of anti-racism and diversity plans in ten pilot areas, consistent with the intercultural framework set out in the NPAR and to apply the equality impact assessment template for city and county development boards as part of the preparation of these plans; the drawing up of guidelines to inform the development of ARD plans; and the establishment of broadly based steering groups in the ten pilot areas to help advise on the development of the ARD plans, involving statutory administrative bodies, local development partnerships, social partners, local authorities and community organisations working closely with cultural and ethnic minorities.

My Department has recently written to managers of local authorities, city and county development boards and area partnerships to progress these measures. It is not possible to anticipate costs in advance of measures being decided in each local authority which may have very different needs depending on local circumstances.