Carol Nolan (Laois-Offaly, Independent)
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919. To ask the Minister for Rural and Community Development the external consultancy organisation or provider that delivered diversity and inclusion training within her Department in each of the years 2018 to 2021 and to date in 2022; the costs associated with such services; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [16381/22]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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My Department is dedicated to the fair and equal treatment of all staff and stakeholders. Our programmes, policies and practices promote and advance social justice, equality and diversity across the range of interventions and supports to communities.

The Department’s People Strategy, commits to supporting diversity and inclusion in our workplace enabling the achievement of equality of opportunity in all employment practices and across our learning and development initiatives.

My Department will shortly be drafting its new People Strategy 2022 – 2024 which will include a learning and development plan for all staff, including training in equality and diversity initiatives.

In 2021, my Department provided Disability Awareness Information sessions and training courses to all staff, as well as Outdoor Recreation Disability Awareness workshops to our stakeholders and Department staff.

My Department continues to take active measures to promote and advance diversity and inclusion in the promotion of relevant policies, health and wellbeing initiatives, and active engagement with staff to encourage a culture of diversity and inclusion where all staff are valued in the workplace. Staff are encouraged to attend events organised across the Civil Service by groups such as the Civil Service Women’s Network and the LGBT+ Network. The Department has also supported a member of staff to complete a Professional Diploma in Human Rights and Equality.

Costs covering the period in question are provided in the table below.