asked the Minister for Finance the policy of his Department in regard to employing blind people as telephonists and switchboard operators.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Employment of Blind People.
17.
The policy of my Department is, with the co-operation of the Department of Posts and Telegraphs, to promote as far as possible the employment of blind persons as telephonists and switchboard operators in Government Departments.
Has the Minister any indication of the numbers who have been so employed and if there has been an increase?
In Government Departments alone, as distinct from certain other State or semi-State bodies, there are 14 employed. I have not got the number of those employed in State bodies. There are some employed in the Army, I think, and in certain other State bodies but I have not got the number precisely.
Is this an increasing or decreasing number?
The indications are that because of certain developments with regard to switchboards it may be decreasing rather than increasing.