Dáil Éireann debate -
Thursday, 9 Apr 1992

Vol. 418 No. 6

Written Answers. - Civil Service Employees.

Mervyn Taylor

Question:

56 Mr. Taylor asked the Minister for Finance if he will make a statement on the employment of people with disabilities in the Civil Service including the number of such people employed at present and the comparable figure for each of the last five years for which figures are available.

Minister for Finance (Mr. B. Ahern)

Competitions reserved for disabled persons are held by the Civil Service Commissioners from time to time for employment in the Civil Service. Disabled persons are also employed in some subordinate positions in the Civil Service. The latest figures available show that the number of disabled persons employed in the Civil Service at 1 January 1991 was 436. A further 33 disabled persons were recruited through the Civil Service Commission since 1 January 1991. It is estimated that the number currently employed in the Civil Service is 460. The details in respect of the last five years for which figures are available are as follows.

Year	Total disabled
1 January 1987	509
1 January 1988	476
1 January 1989	455
1 January 1990	391
1 January 1991	436

The decline in the numbers employed between 1987 and 1990 was due to the embargo on recruitment during those years. Progress on increasing the number of people with disabilities employed in the Civil Service has resumed since the embargo was lifted.