423. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the guidance her Department has issued to public bodies concerning their obligations under the Public Sector Equality and Human Rights Duty when introducing or expanding digital-only services; whether equality and human-rights assessments are required before such services replace existing non-digital access; and if not, the reason. [67680/26]

Under the Public Sector Equality and Human Rights Duty, as set out in section 42 of the Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission Act 2014, all public bodies in Ireland have responsibility to promote equality, prevent discrimination and protect the human rights of their employees, customers, service users and everyone affected by their policies and plans.

The Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission (IHREC) is Ireland’s national human rights and equality institution and has been given responsibility under the Act to monitor and provide information, guidance and education to public bodies on understanding and meeting their statutory obligations under section 42. IHREC has developed guidance and training materials for public bodies in this regard..

I understand that IHREC’s guidance indicates that a public body can undertake an Equality and Human Rights Impact Assessment (EHRIA) in advance of any change to policy or method of service delivery that would impact on the accessibility of a public service. An EHRIA may be an appropriate means of identifying the potential impacts of any changes in the way in which services are delivered.

Further information is available on IHREC’s website at www.ihrec.ie/public-sector-duty.

As IHREC is an independent body, I have no role in the development or oversight of this guidance.