AQW 5907/17-22

Mr John Blair
Alliance Party
South Antrim

Tabled Date: 27/07/2020
Answered On Date: 07/08/2020
Priority Written: No

Question:
To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs what actions his Department is taking to ensure the Racial Equality Strategy 2015-2025 objectives are being met; and on what date she intends to publish a report confirming the approach it is taking towards achieving the Strategy goals.

Answer:

Work on the Racial Equality Strategy 2015-2025 has not progressed across the NICS as first envisaged due to a number of reasons, including Assembly suspension, EU Exit and Covid-19.

Nevertheless, the DAERA Racial Equality Champion provided the necessary input to the Issues Register, although a meeting planned for March to agree the Action Plan did not proceed.

The Champion has also continued to progress the work within the Department in relation to racial equality issues and dedicated resources have been secured to support diversity work. We will continue to work closely with the TEO Racial Equality Unit to address issues and gaps in services faced by service users from different racial backgrounds.

Under the New Decade, New Approach agreement we look forward to the development of a new and updated Racial Equality Strategy. The approach to the Strategy goals should be published shortly after this.