Neasa Hourigan (Dublin Central, Green Party)
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85. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the face-to-face social services available to the Roma community; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40579/20]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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My Department is committed to providing a quality service to all of its customers. The face to face social services available to all our customers are also available to the Roma community.

The Government's commitment to improve the lives of the Traveller and Roma communities in Ireland is set out in the National Traveller and Roma Inclusion Strategy 2018- 2021 (NTRIS). My Department’s core commitments in NTRIS focus on Traveller and Roma employment. Staff in my Department also participate on the Employment and Roma Inclusion sub-groups.

All public employment services (PES) are available on a non-discriminatory basis to any person or existing customer. Any personlooking for support from my Department can request this, on a voluntary, walk–in basis to any of our services throughout the Intreo network. In addition, an awareness and respect for equality and diversity is an integral component of all staff training in line with our core values.

My Department remains committed to engaging with a wide range of stakeholders with an interest in social inclusion policies. These include the Migrant Consultation Forum established under the Government’s Migrant Integration Strategy; the quarterly customer service conferences; the annual Pre Budget Forum and Social Inclusion Forum. Representatives from the Roma community are invited to all of these events.

I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.