Róisín Shortall (Dublin North West, Social Democrats)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

79. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the position regarding his Department's gender-proofing departmental budgeting processes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42851/17]

Paschal Donohoe (Dublin Central, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

The Programme for a Partnership Government contains a commitment to develop the process of budget and policy proofing as a means of advancing equality, reducing poverty and strengthening economic and social rights. This is also a commitment that has been included in The National Strategy for Women and Girls 2017-2020.

A policy paper prepared by my Department in relation to equality budgeting is being published today alongside the Expenditure Report. This paper sets out the pilot approach that will be adopted for gender budgeting in the Budget 2018 budgetary cycle anchored in the performance budgeting framework. In developing the pilot approach my Department has extensively reviewed international best practice in this area, and has had ongoing engagement with IHREC and the National Women’s Council, as well as drawing on best international practice in other OECD countries.

In preparation for the introduction of a pilot programme of gender budgeting my Department has hosted a workshop focused on gender budgeting which was attended by officials from across the Civil Service. The workshop aimed to familiarise participants with the concept of gender budgeting and to provide them with tools to identify a gender perspective and to gender proof policies. Further work to embed the skills and capacity required for gender budgeting across the Civil Service will be ongoing during the course of the year.