Carol Nolan (Laois-Offaly, Independent)
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76.To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment to provide details of any anti-racism or unconscious bias training and presentations made available to staff in his Department during the period 2021 to date; the content of such training and presentations; the provider of any such training and presentations and the costs incurred for each event; if attendance at such training and presentations is mandatory or voluntary for staff; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24668/24]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party)
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An outline of the training made available to staff in relation to anti-racism or unconscious bias from 2021-2024 as requested by the Deputy is set out below.

• In 2021, mandatory diversity and inclusion training was provided by Legal Island, costing €5,840. In the same year, voluntary unconscious bias training was rolled out, costing €800.
• In 2022, mandatory unconscious bias training was provided by Legal Island, costing €5,450. In the same year, mandatory training on the importance of conscious inclusion training was rolled out, costing €5,450. Various OneLearning courses were also attended by staff on this topic at a cost of €100.
• In 2023, my Department did not hold any inhouse unconscious bias or anti-racism training pending the publication of its Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Strategy. Interviewer skills training was held which contained topics on unconscious biases, costing €2,200. Various OneLearning courses were also attended by staff on this topic at a cost of €200.
• In 2024, selected staff attended free interviewer skills training on the PAS eLearning hub which contained topics on unconscious biases. Various free OneLearning courses were also attended by staff on Equality and Human Rights in the Public Service.