Ivana Bacik (Dublin Bay South, Labour)
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167. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth his views on the need to add socioeconomic status as a grounds of discrimination for the purpose of application of the equality Acts and related legislation. [24571/25]

Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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I fully recognise that despite the great progress that we have made on many social issues, individuals in Ireland can still often face barriers on the basis of their social and economic backgrounds.

In November 2024, a General Scheme and Heads of Bill arising from a review of the Equal Status Acts 2000-2018 and the Employment Equality Acts 1998-2015, (the Equality Acts), was approved by Government.

While it was not included in the General Scheme approved in November, the Government did at the same time approve, in principle, the introduction of a new equality ground of socio-economic disadvantage in the equality legislation, subject to the completion of an assessment of the potential costs for the Exchequer and of the Enhanced SME test examining the potential impact on SMEs of the introduction of such an equality ground.

My officials are currently working to complete the Enhanced SME test and will engage with key business organisations in this regard shortly to seek their views as to the potential impact on SMEs of this proposal.

I am hopeful that this work can be completed in the coming weeks.