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Supporting Pathways – Interagency Response

Denise McCool & Sinead McDaid

Inishowen Development Partnership

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Core Values of the Strategy

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Approach

dignity; democracy; inclusion; autonomy, and social justice
benchmarks for the ambition set out in the strategy

Values-led

assessment of equality and human rights issues

Public Sector Equality and Human Rights Duty

Migrant Integration Strategy; White Paper to End Direct Provision; National Traveller & Roma Inclusion Strategy; Equality legislation

National Policy

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Membership

The interagency group is comprised of representatives from the following agencies and organisations:

Inishowen Development Partnership (IDP)

Donegal Local Development Company (DLDC)

Dept Of Social Protection

ATU Letterkenny

Donegal ETB

Letterkenny Chamber of Commerce

Donegal Intercultural Platform

Think Equal Donegal

Local Enterprise Office

Other agencies and organisations may be invited to join the group as appropriate.

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FLAGSHIP – Action 42

Objectives -‘Supporting Pathways’ Interagency Group

To identify and address barriers to employment faced by Black and minority ethnic communities in County Donegal
To develop and implement effective and appropriate pathways to work, including entrepreneurship and self-employment, for Black and minority ethnic communities in County Donegal
To coordinate and collaborate across agencies and organisations to ensure a comprehensive and holistic approach to supporting pathways to work for Black and Minority Ethnic communities in County Donegal
To monitor and evaluate the implementation of the pathways to work for Black and minority ethnic communities in County Donegal, and report on progress to the implementation group.

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��Progress to date:��

Interagency meetings

7 – 2023

3 - 2024

Stakeholders signed up

Commitment confirmed

Terms of reference for group – agreed and signed off at interagency meeting

Survey findings shared– identifying challenges/gaps and opportunities

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Baseline Data

Baseline data reviewed – informed by the ‘Closing the Gap: A report on the employment experiences of BME communities, including Traveller & Roma in Donegal’ by Think Equality Donegal

The ‘Closing the Gap’ report aimed to research into the lived experiences of BME communities in accessing and navigating the labour market in Donegal.

It also sought to gauge their awareness and experiences of existing support infrastructure within the county

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Key Findings �Challenges identified in “Closing the Gap” conducted by: The Think Equality Project Donegal�Report Compiled by: David Friel�

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2022 Census Data:

Census 2022 shows that, in the new categories, 94,434 people resident in Ireland identified as Indian/ Pakistani/Bangladeshi; 20,115 identified as Arab and 16,059 as Roma.

The number of people who identified as Black or Black Irish–African was 67,546, up 17% from 57,850 in 2016.
A further 8,699 people identified as Black or Black Irish – any other Black background, up 28% since the previous census.

The number of Irish Travellers living in the State and counted in Census 2022 was 32,949, an increase of 6% from 30,987 in the 2016 census.

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Action Plan – First Steps

Public Sector Duty Training

Delivered in two locations

Trainers ~ Balume Dube & Roisin O’Neill (TED)

Jan 31^st Feb 7^th, 2024

Public Sector Duty Training

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Action Plan

Intercultural

Awareness Training

Intercultural Awareness Training Date: March 13^th, 2024

Interagency participation – exploring our shared understanding of Intercultural Concepts

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Supporting Pathways to Work

Interagency Information Event – taking place April 17

Specifically, for BME communities living in Donegal

Connecting to the agencies and support services across the county who have a role in supporting pathways to work

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Supporting Pathways to Work

Discrimination at work has to be addressed for three reasons: the law requires it, a sense of fairness makes it unavoidable, and it makes good business sense. �Achieving Equality in Intercultural Workplaces An Agenda For Action (2003)

1 in 7 people born outside Ireland – our workforce needs to reflect society

Valuing and embracing diversity and developing inclusive practices within our own workplaces

Continue to implement the wider BME Strategy Actions

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Supporting Pathways – �Action 42 Interagency Subgroup

Next Steps….

Systems to ensure we hear back / listen to people accessing services and supports to ensure a comprehensive and holistic approach to supporting pathways to work

Develop media campaign

If you can see it… – promoting businesses who have a diverse staff and how this has enhanced the workplace and its value to the company

Support BME business development – through training and support

Continue to review policies and implementation of Public Sector Equality & Human Rights Duty (PSD) – members

Addressing discrimination and prejudice / Labelling & stereotyping

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