Equality Reviews

In 2019, each of the thirty-one county and city councils were asked to complete an Equality Review. This was due to failures nationally to draw down ring-fenced capital budget to meet obligations on Traveller specific accommodation. 

Each council was asked to:

• conduct an audit on the level of equality or opportunity and/or discrimination that exists in relation to members of the Traveller community who wish to avail of Traveller specific accommodation.
• review their practices and procedures and other relevant factors in relation to the drawdown of capital funding and the provision of Traveller specific accommodation services.

They were specifically asked to answer questions about:

• their practices and procedures related to the provision of Traveller accommodation.
• the amount of funds each council has requested to draw down from Government over the last 4 years and the use of that money.
• whether Traveller accommodation projects are being completed, and if not why?
• the amount drawn down from Government for standard housing over the same period.
• the impact of any failure to draw down funds on their meeting of statutory duties to provide specific accommodation for Travellers.
• what funds were applied for in 2019 in respect of provision of Traveller specific accommodation.

Accounts of the completed reviews were published with the 2021 IHREC Annual Report.

Seven local authorities were then asked to complete an Equality Action Plan.

In 2023 we invited Gymnastics Ireland to carry out an equality review.

The equality review consisted of an audit of the level of equality of opportunity that exists in relation to Gymnastics Ireland’s provision of services, under the Equal Status Acts 2000-2018. The process involved an examination by Gymnastics Ireland of its practices, and the procedures that it has in place to promote equality of opportunity generally in the provision of services.

In particular, Gymnastics Ireland were invited to:

• Identify all relevant current practices and procedures that relate to promotion of equality of opportunity by Gymnastics Ireland in the provision of services;
• Assess the effectiveness of these practice and procedure in promoting equality of opportunity;
• Identify and assess the practices and procedures Gymnastics Ireland utilises to handle complaints raising an allegation of discrimination;
• Identify whether any issues of equality of opportunity arise; and
• Outline any recommendations and/or findings from the equality review.

An account of the completed review was published in April 2025.

In 2024, we invited the State Examinations Commission to conduct an Equality Review. This is to address the issue of accessibility of State exams for candidates with a visual impairment. Specifically, the Equality Review is to address the provision of accessible modified papers, provision of additional time arrangements, and digital paper delivery and forms.

In particular, as part of the Equality Review, we invited the State Examinations Commission to:

• Conduct an audit of the level of equality of opportunity that exists for candidates with a visual impairment on the issue of accessibility of State exams;
• Identify all relevant current practices, procedures or other factors (for example, strategies, plans and positive action initiatives) that relate to the issue of accessibility of State examinations for candidates with a visual impairment;
• Assess the effectiveness of such practices, procedures and other factors in relation to the accessibility of State examinations and the equality of opportunity of candidates with a visual impairment; and
• Outline any recommendations and/or findings from the Equality Review. 

This work is ongoing.

In 2024, we invited two private recruitment agencies, Sigmar Recruitment Consultants Limited and Staffline Recruitment Limited, to carry out an Equality Review. This is to address the issue of accessibility of the recruitment process of public jobs for individuals with a visual impairment. 

Under the Public Service Management (Recruitment and Appointments) Act 2004, the Commission for Public Service Appointments can grant licenses to public bodies to enable them to undertake their own recruitment. 

Those public bodies can in turn can seek the assistance of a private sector recruitment agency with the tasks associated with the recruitment processes.

This work is ongoing.