asked the Minister for Labour whether in view of the fact that the proportion of disabled persons employed in the public sector declined between 1981 and 1982, he will consider reviewing the policy of moving towards a quota of 3 per cent of total employment by 1985, and replace it with a policy of setting an annual quota for the proportion of new recruits into the public service who will be drawn from disabled workers.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Public Sector Disabled Employees.
8.
While the number of disabled persons employed in the public sector has increased significantly since the introduction of the quota, I accept that the current restrictions on recruitment in the public sector have had adverse effects on the speed with which the 3 per cent quota can be achieved.
I am not satisfied, however, that the suggestion put forward by the Deputy would improve the prospects of disabled persons, I consider that it would be better to preserve and expand the many special arrangements made by the various public sector agencies to recruit disabled persons. For my part I will avail myself of every opportunity to encourage the public sector to increase its intake of disabled persons and I will keep the arrangements under constant review.
Is the Minister not concerned that as many as 66 per cent of the people classified as disabled in the public service work force actually became disabled after recruitment — in other words, they were not recruited as disabled persons? Does he not therefore see the advantage of setting a quota for new recruits rather than for the stock so that we would give people who have been disabled from birth or from an early age an opportunity to find employment?
There is some merit in what the Deputy is suggesting. However, at present we are more inclined to the view that the 3 per cent quota system is the most effective way to deal with it.
It is true that between 1981 and 1982 the percentage of disabled persons in the public service declined from 1 ¼ to barely over 1. That was the reply to parliamentary question in June 1982 and November 1983. Therefore, the 3 per cent quota does not appear to be working and I am asking the Minister to have another look at the possibility of setting a quota for new recruits rather than a quota for the stock of employees, which is simply not working today.
I will have a look at it. The information I have in relation to the proportion of new recruits is that in 1980 the percentage of disabled persons was 0.4; in 1981 it was 4.3, in 1982, 3.5 and in 1983, 4.4.
How many disabled people were recruited in 1983 in the public sector?
I do not have the numbers. I can get them for the Deputy.