asked the Minister for Labour the additional vacancies that will be made available this year in the public service for disabled persons; and the way in which their employment will be facilitated.
Written Answers. - Disabled Persons' Employment in Public Service.
302.
Disabled persons are being recruited to the public service in accordance with the Government decision that a 3 per cent quota of disabled persons should be employed in the service as soon as possible. In pursuit of that decision special arrangements have been made to facilitate the recruitment of disabled persons to the civil service, including the holding of a number of special competitions by the Civil Service Commission. This should lead to the taking on of at least 200 disabled persons during 1981.
In so far as local authorities, health boards, and other State bodies are concerned, the employment of disabled persons is a matter for the individual bodies, but all of them have been urged by the responsible Ministers to take the necessary steps so that the 3 per cent quota target will be achieved as quickly as possible.
It is too early yet to put a figure on the total number of disabled persons likely to be recruited to the whole public service this year, as this will depend on the number of suitable vacancies which can be made available and other factors. However, I am confident that substantial progress will be made towards the Government's 3 per cent quota target.