Holly Cairns (Cork South West, Social Democrats)
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542. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if her Department, and public bodies and agencies under her remit, have an anti-racism policy which can be accessed by the public; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [27670/23]

Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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In line with my Department’s Statement of Strategy, available online at Department of Education Statement of Strategy 2021-2023, my Department is committed to actively supporting the furtherance of inclusive environments in our schools and education centres. We want to ensure that students of all backgrounds and additional needs have the confidence and reassurance to reach their full potential and that our education system is fully welcoming of diversity and inclusion. The Customer Charter for my Department, available at Customer Charter, also makes a firm commitment to treat everyone fairly and impartially and all Department services are operated in accordance with the Equal Status Acts.

My Department supports the eradication of racism and racial discrimination in any areas for which it has responsibility and will continue to address the areas of anti-racism, identity-based bullying and cultural awareness through a suite of supports. These include Cineáltas: Action Plan on Bullying; Continuing Professional Development (CPD) for teachers at Primary and Post-Primary level and in initial teacher education, to ensure that such programmes enable teachers to deal with teaching and learning needs of all students from all cultural backgrounds and provide support for pedagogical practices that promote inclusion. In addition, the curriculum at both primary and post-primary level aims to foster inclusivity where equality and diversity are promoted. The Social Personal and Health Education Curriculum (SPHE) supports students learning in the areas of inclusion, diversity and counter racism.

The National Action Plan Against Racism (NAPAR) 2023-2027, was published in March 2023, and can be accessed at National Action Plan Against Racism 2023-2027. It is Ireland’s national level, co-ordinated approach to eliminating racism in all its forms. My Department is committed to working collaboratively and constructively with stakeholders in relation to the actions outlined in this Plan and in particular to those actions to strengthen inclusion and anti-racism in the education system.

Finally, my Department also complies with policy and guidance in relation to equality of opportunity in all of its employment practices. The Employment Equality Acts place an obligation on all employers to prevent harassment in the workplace across a number of grounds including race. My Department is committed to developing inclusivity, building diversity and ensuring equal respect and opportunity for every member of staff in the Department. All staff members are made aware of their responsibility to behave in a way that upholds a culture of dignity and respect and the behaviours that can constitute bullying, harassment and sexual harassment under the “Dignity at Work – an Anti-Bullying, Harassment and Sexual Harassment Policy for the Civil Service”which is publicly available at www.cseas.per.gov.ie/wp-content/uploads/Dignity-At-Work-Policy-PDF.pdf.

The information in respect of state bodies is not held by my Department. Contact details for these bodies are set out in the attached document should the Deputy wish to contact them directly with this query.

Contact E-Mail Addresses for State Bodies under the Remit of the Department of Education as at 03 February 2023

Note 1 - The spelling of the NCCA e-mail address to which Oireachtas queries may be addressed has been verified with the NCCA as being accurate