Gary Gannon (Dublin Central, Social Democrats)
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570. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills his views on the absence of systematic data for persons with disabilities or from minority or ethnic backgrounds working in academic and research roles in Irish higher education institutions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40506/20]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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The HEA has been working with higher education stakeholders for the past 12 months on the issue of the collection of data on higher education institution staff by ethnicity. The HEA Centre of Excellence for Equality, Diversity and Inclusion will request such data in December 2020, following the publication of a statement by the Athena SWAN National Intersectionality Working Group in May 2020. Also in December 2020, the HEA will conduct a national survey of higher education institution staff to develop a picture of race equality across the Irish higher education sector. The HEA is committed to addressing racial inequalities in higher education and to supporting Irish higher education institutions to create an inclusive culture and environment where individuals are able to thrive, irrespective of their ethnic background. The Centre does not currently collect data on staff with disabilities.

Higher education institutions have a responsibility to collect disability data at local level, as it is central to their implementation of the Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission Act 2014. Under this Act, all public higher education institutions must undertake assessment and monitoring, and have policies and plans to promote equality, prevent discrimination and protect the human rights of staff, students and the wider public that are served by the work of higher education institutions.

There is a legal obligation on public bodies to report on the number of staff with disabilities that they employ. To guide public bodies on this task, the National Disability Authority has developed a suite of forms for collection of data, a set of statutory forms for return of the data; and guidance for public bodies and their staffs on what is involved: .