Naoise Ó Cearúil (Kildare North, Fianna Fail)
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731. To ask the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the status of the National strategy for women and girls; when it is expected to be published; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34315/25]

Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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My Department leads on cross-government policy to promote gender equality and the empowerment of women and girls.

The Programme for Government commits my Department to publish and implement an updated National Strategy for Women and Girls. My Department is currently working to fulfil that commitment. A stakeholder consultation was completed at the end of 2024. This consultation sought input from both the general public and representatives from across civil society. A National Youth Assembly was convened in September 2024 to attain the views of young people on priorities for inclusion in the new strategy. This assembly was specifically designed to provide young people with an opportunity to discuss how gender inequality affects their lives, explore solutions, and make recommendations that could be integrated into national policy.

In March 2025 an engagement event, supported by the National Women's Council, was held to mark International Women's Day and to provide an update to stakeholders. The findings from the stakeholder consultation and National Youth Assembly event were discussed followed by a prioritisation exercise to help identify potential gaps in the findings and areas for further consideration.

An Inter-Departmental Committee was convened in April with representatives from the majority of Government Departments to discuss the aims and objectives of the next Strategy, and potential actions to progress gender equality.

Officials are currently working intensively to finalise the new Strategy with a view to publishing the Strategy shortly.