Catherine Connolly (Galway West, Independent)
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59. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills when the scheme, as identified as necessary by NUIG's gender task force, to address the gender imbalance among administrative staff grades will be implemented; the reason for the delay in its implementation; the number and grade of persons tasked with its formulation and implementation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52018/17]

Mary Mitchell O'Connor (Dún Laoghaire, Fine Gael)
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The NUI Galway Report of its Gender Equality Task Force identified 24 recommendations to be implemented by the University. The membership of the task force is available on the NUI, Galway website. I understand that NUI, Galway has a Gender Equality Action Plan in place regarding implementation of its Gender Equality Task Force recommendations and those of the 2016 Higher Education Authority's National Review of Gender Equality in Higher Education Institutions. 

The NUI, Galway action plan identifies sets of actions, lead responsibilities and time lines for the implementation of the various actions.  It is updated on a regular basis and further information on these actions would be available from the university.  I understand that a number of the recommendations have been implemented while others require a staged approach.

On 6 November 2017 I announced the appointment of a high level Gender Equality Task force for Higher Education to prepare a prioritised three year action plan, in consultation with stakeholders.  The Task force will also oversee a national systems review of the recruitment and promotion policies and practices currently in place in higher education institutions, with a view to identifying good practice and highlighting areas that need improvement.