asked the Minister for the Public Service the intake of disabled people into the public service in the year 1978 and the estimate for 1979.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Employment for Disabled.
5.
Separate statistics are not kept of the number of disabled persons recruited to the public service. Accordingly, it is not possible to give the information asked for by the Deputy.
The question was put down on the basis of an undertaking given by me during the previous administration, and adopted by that Government, that there would be deliberate recruitment of disabled and handicapped persons into the public service to a figure of 3 per cent of total employment by 1981. The reason for putting down the question was to ask the Minister for the Public Service whether he was aware of how this target is being met so far in the public service. Is the Minister saying that we have no figures on how the 3 per cent target is being met at present?
We do not have a separate figure at present. The Deputy may be aware that the Minister for Labour has an interdepartmental committee examining this question.
Are any figures available to him at present?
No.
Surely there must be figures available on the target.
Not when one takes into account Government Departments and local authority offices. The definition of "disabled person" is another question that has to be resolved. Does the Deputy consider a person who has had a kidney removed as a disabled person? All these questions must be examined and appropriate arrangements made regarding the outcome of such an examination.
On investigation the Minister will find that we have advanced beyond that definition of the disabled.
The Deputy might have but——
There is no need for friction between us. I am asking the Minister to see if the figures are available.
When the interdepartmental committee report on this matter, I hope we will achieve the target of 3 per cent.
The Minister will find that the interdepartmental committee are in possession of the current figure.
The Deputy knows that the interdepartmental committee are governed by another Department. If he puts down the question to the other Department he may get the information he requires.
Will the Minister undertake to get me this information?
I will communicate with the Deputy if the figures are available.