Bríd Smith (Dublin South Central, People Before Profit Alliance)
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981. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he has any plans to include education as a future ground for discrimination in the Employment Equality and Discrimination Act 2015; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1255/23]

Roderic O'Gorman (Dublin West, Green Party)
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Issues relating to discrimination with regard to education are currently encompassed in the equality legislation.

As part of the current ongoing review of the Equality Acts (Equal Status Acts 2000-2018 and the Employment Equality Acts 1998-2015), a public consultation process was launched in July 2021, to examine the functioning of the Acts and their effectiveness in combatting discrimination and promoting equality. The review includes Programme for Government commitments to consider the introduction of a socio-economic ground for discrimination.

The review is examining the operation of the Acts from the perspective of the person taking a claim under its redress mechanisms. It will examine the degree to which those experiencing discrimination are aware of the legislation and whether there are practical or other obstacles which preclude or deter them from taking an action.

The Department invited written submissions to the public consultation in July 2021 and I was pleased to note the extensive response to the consultation. The public were asked for their views on the functioning and accessibility of the Acts; the scope of the current grounds; whether existing exemptions should be modified or removed; and whether the legislation adequately addresses intersectionality. Submissions are currently being analysed by officials in the Department and a report will be published in due course.

It is intended that legislative proposals arising from the review will be brought forward in 2023. However, as the review has not yet completed, it is not yet possible to indicate the nature or scope of those proposals.