asked the Minister for Health if he is satisfied that public authorities make sufficient efforts to provide employment for blind people.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Employment of Blind.
10.
A number of blind and partially-sighted persons are employed, mainly as telephonists in the service of Government departments, semi-state bodies and local authorities.
As regards telephonists, the general policy in the public sector is to secure the maximum number of appointments to such posts, having regard to the number of switchboard installations available which are capable of being handled by non-sighted operators.
While employment opportunities for blind persons outside the area of telephony are very limited, consideration is being given by my Department to the possibility of expanding the range and number of such posts in the public authority service.
Is the Minister aware that in response to a similar question here last week the Minister for Finance said that the latest technical developments in telephony are such that there is likely to be a decreasing number of jobs for blind telephonists? In view of this, would the Minister have this matter examined with a view to providing alternative employment?
We have already started to examine this matter.
Can the Minister state if he is aware of the technical developments to which the Minister for Finance referred?
I am so aware. We have to go into the entire question of how many blind persons are capable of being trained for different kinds of jobs. It will take some time to deal with this matter. It is a continuing operation.