Joe O'Brien (Dublin Fingal, Green Party)
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The Department of Rural and Community Development is committed to supporting empowered, inclusive and resilient communities. Details on the measures undertaken and delivered by my Department to implement specific actions points, referred to by the deputy, of the action plan to support the National LGBTI+ Inclusion Strategy 2019-2021 are outlined below:

• Since 2019, my Department has provided funding through the Dormant Accounts Fund to support LGBTI+ community organisations across the country. The main purpose of this funding is to help the organisations make the existing community infrastructures inclusive and welcoming to the LGBTI+ community and to provide pop-up LGBTI+ services in areas not currently serviced.
• My Department is leading, with assistance from Pobal, on a Dormant Accounts Funded project which seeks to build capacity, as well as provide resources and toolkits to support the engagement of marginalised communities in consultation and decision-making processes at local level. As part of that project, training has been provided on a number of areas, including on the Public Sector Duty. That training was delivered by IHREC to local authorities and other relevant local stakeholders. As part of the project a resource guide, entitled ‘A Guide for Inclusive Community Engagement in Local Planning and Decision Making’ was launched in February 2023. A second version of that guide is currently being finalised which includes an input from LGBT Ireland on how to create an inclusive environment for people from the LGBTQI+ community.
• AMACH! LGBTI+ Galway is one of the organisations receiving funding from the Community Development Pilot Programme. This funding allows the organisation to continue their work in implementing specific measures in the action plan to reflect equally the diversity within the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community by encouraging positive participation from the community. AMACH! actively advocates to achieve a solid and safe support structure for the LGBTI+ community and raise awareness, provide educational and training events and workshops, and endeavour to support and promote a socially inclusive society.
• The Scheme to Support National Organisations (SSNO) provides multi-annual funding towards core costs of national, community and voluntary organisations. Two organisations with a direct focus on LGBTQI+ supports are being funded under the current iteration of the SSNO, Belong to Youth Services and LGBT Support and Advocacy Network Ireland. In addition, there are other organisations funded under the SSNO programme, while not having a specific focus on LGBTQI+ supports, may provide related supports and advocacy.
• Library authorities have selection policies in place for purchasing books. This requires public libraries to compile an LGBTI+ reading list under the ‘Healthy Ireland at your Library’ collection. A working group with representation from BeLonG To, HSE Sexual Health and Crisis Prevention, Irish National Teachers' Organisation LGBTI+ Group, public libraries and Transgender Equality Network Ireland were brought together to input to a reading list, update it on an ongoing basis and examine opportunities for the enhancement of stock to support the LGBTI+ community.

In addition, my Department supports LGBTI+ visibility through the encouragement of staff to attend events that include Dublin Pride under the banner ‘Proud to Work for Ireland’ along with other themed events held in the Department’s offices during Pride month.

There is also a dedicated Equality, Diversity and Inclusion section on the intranet where staff can access LGBTQ+ information, supports and resources from the CSEAS, PAS and IHREC. Equality, Diversity and Inclusion is a key goal in Our People Strategy 2022-2025 and has working groups comprising a mix of grades and genders to drive forward its work on the People Strategy. The Learning and Development Manager is involved in the Civil Service LGBTQ+ network and encourages DRCD staff to join the network and attend events.