Consultation for Equality Data Strategy 2023
As you may be aware, an Equality Budgeting scan was conducted by the OECD in 2019 in order to assess the actions that the Government had taken to mainstream equality considerations as part of the budget process. The OECD Scan suggested that to improve equality budgeting and to ensure accurate and informed data, there is a need to improve the collection of equality data in Ireland.
The recently published National Action Plan Against Racism highlights a lack of ethnically disaggregated data. Without this data, it is difficult to fully quantify the prevalence and impact of racism in our society. Designing and implementing effective programmes to eliminate systemic racism relies on the availability of such information.
On 21 March 2022, to mark the International Day against Racism, Minister O’Gorman announced the development of a National Equality Data Strategy by the Central Statistics Office and the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth that will put in place a strategic approach to improving the collection, disaggregation and use of equality data.
It is intended that the Equality Data Strategy will be in place from 2023-2027 and that it will provide a general approach for identifying and filling current gaps in Equality data, as well as develop standard practices in classification. The Strategy is intended to improve the collection of all equality data and will improve the ability of public bodies to monitor the impact of policies and initiatives and will complement the Equality Budgeting initiative led by the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform.
A working group has been established which brings together a range of stakeholders from across Government, as well as civil society and research bodies. The working group has finalised a draft Strategy document and are now seeking views on same.
The draft Strategy along with a survey can be accessed here: Equality Data Strategy Consultation