Jonathan O'Brien (Cork North Central, Sinn Fein)
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506. To ask the Minister for Social Protection his plans to provide mandatory and comprehensive anti-racism training to all of his Department's front-line staff. [13453/16]

Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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All forms of discrimination, covered by equal status and employment equality legislation (including racism), are addressed in the current induction programme which is delivered to all new entrants to the Department by Staff Development Unit (SDU). Equality and diversity are further dealt with in the Department’s Customer Service training course with a focus on unconscious bias and the promotion of the Department’s culture and core values of public service, customer focus and total professionalism. In addition, the principles of natural justice underpin all decision-making and services provided by the Department. These principles are reflected throughout the ‘One DSP’ training curriculum being delivered to all front-line staff.

SDU also promotes the e-learning course “Delivering Equality in Public Services: An Introduction for Frontline Staff”, available on the Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission website. A link to this course is provided for staff via the SDU website.

In addition, all regions within the Department have the option to procure external providers to supply training where a need is identified locally.

SDU is also represented on the Migrant Consultative Forum and is engaging with relevant stakeholder groups on enhancing anti-racism and diversity awareness elements of customer service training in the Department.