Pádraig Mac Lochlainn (Donegal, Sinn Fein)
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930. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if his Department has developed an online reporting system for the 2024 gender pay gap reporting cycle, which will consist of a central portal where all employer reports will be uploaded and can be accessed publicly; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44531/24]

Roderic O'Gorman (Dublin West, Green Party)
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The Programme for Government 2020 included a commitment to legislate to require publication of the gender pay gap in large companies. The Gender Pay Gap Information Act 2021 meets this commitment and requires organisations to report on their gender pay gap across a range of metrics. The purpose of gender pay gap reporting is to encourage organisations to recognise and reflect on their gender pay gap and the drivers behind it.

Reporting began in 2022 for organisations with over 250 employees, and the reporting obligation was extended to organisations with over 150 employees in 2024. Employers are required to choose a ‘snapshot’ date in June and to base their reporting on the employees they have on that date. Employers have six months from their snapshot date to make the relevant calculations and prepare their report. The Regulations also require employers to publish a statement setting out, in the employers’ opinion, the reasons for the gender pay gap in their company and what measures are being taken or proposed to be taken by the employer to eliminate or reduce that pay gap.

The reporting obligation will be extended to organisations with over 50 employees in 2025.

An online reporting system is currently being advanced by Department officials. It will consist of a central portal where all employer reports will be uploaded and can be accessed publicly.

In 2024, employers must publish their gender pay gap information on their website or in a manner that is accessible to all its employees and to the public. This information must be available for three years, beginning from the date of publication.