Patrick Costello (Dublin South Central, Green Party)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

38. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth for an update on development of the next LGBTQI+ inclusion strategy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38559/24]

Roderic O'Gorman (Dublin West, Green Party)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I am pleased to inform the Deputy that drafting of the successor to the National LGBTI+ inclusion Strategy is currently advancing well.

As the Deputy may be aware, an independent review of the National LGBTI+ Inclusion Strategy was commissioned by my department, and the final report was published in June 2024. This review will inform, in part, the development of the successor Strategy.

An extensive consultation process has recently been completed, which sought the views of members of the LGBTIQ+ community and those who engage with LGBTIQ+ issues through their own lived experience.

Two separate consultation approaches were designed to inform the successor Strategy. One consultation was open to participants aged 18 and over and a separate process involving the children and young people (aged 13-18) was carried out. The consultation with those over 18 was delivered by independent facilitators while the consultation with children and young people was facilitated by the National Participation Office. A Youth Advisory Group was established to support the youth consultation.

Regional consultations were carried out in Dublin, Cork, Galway, Dundalk, Portlaoise and another was held online which included Irish Sign Language (ISL) interpretation. The youth consultation was held in Dublin but included participants from around the country. 416 online submissions were received and analysed as part of the process.

The consultations engaged with intersectional voices including trans people, intersex people, bisexual people, older people, migrants, people with disabilities, and representatives from the Traveller and Roma communities. Listening to these intersectional voices will support the Strategy in addressing the specific needs of the most marginalised LGBTIQ+ people in Ireland. A consultation was also held with representatives from Government departments, State Agencies and civil society organisations who sit on the National LGBTI+ Inclusion Strategy Steering Committee.

The findings from the consultations will feed into the development of a successor Strategy. Reports from the consultations are available on the gov.ie website.

My Department is currently engaging with other Government Departments on the drafting of the Strategy and on developing key actions for it.