Dáil Éireann debate -
Thursday, 12 Dec 1996

Vol. 472 No. 8

Written Answers. - Employment of Persons with Disabilities.

Eric J. Byrne

Question:

27 Mr. E. Byrne asked the Minister for Finance the percentage of persons with a disability employed by Departments in the Civil Service on 1 December 1996; the percentage of persons with a disability employed at each grade; the proposals, if any, he has to ensure that the 3 per cent quota is fulfilled in each Department, rather than this quota being averaged out throughout the Civil Service; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24151/96]

Desmond J. O'Malley

Question:

35 Mr. O'Malley asked the Minister for Finance the number of people with serious disabilities who are employed in the public service; and the plans, if any, he has to ensure that disabled people have greater access to existing public service job opportunities. [24172/96]

Minister for Finance (Mr. Quinn)

I propose to take Questions Nos. 27 and 35 together.

The most recent date for which comprehensive data are available is 1 October 1995. The proportion of people with disabilities employed in the Civil Service, the only area of public service for which I have direct responsibility, on that date was 3 per cent. A tabular statement listing by Department the percentage of staff with a disability employed on 1 October 1995, is available and will be published in the Official Report. Figures are gathered annually in respect of 1 October each year. Figures for 1 October 1996 are currently being gathered and will be forwarded directly to the Deputies as soon as they are available.

Information regarding the grades in which people with disabilities are serving and regarding the nature of individual disabilities is not held centrally. Even if it were, I would be reluctant to publish details by grade in view of the extreme sensitivity of the data, particularly as, in the case of grades with a small number of staff, the information could result in the personal identification of staff with a disability.

Each Head of Department is fully aware of the Government policy on the employment of people with disabilities, which was reiterated in the code of practice for the employment of people with disabilities in the Civil Service, a copy of which is issued to all staff. The code of practice, drawn up in 1993, calls on all Departments to continue to play their full part in employing people with disabilities. In addition, since 1993, the Civil Service Commissioners have assigned a member of their staff as liaison officer for the recruitment of people with disabilities into the Civil Service, to liaise with candidates, Departments and relevant specialised organisations.

The figure of 3 per cent relates to the Civil Service as a whole. The aim of the Government was to reach a quota of 3 per cent overall in the Civil Service. However, at present 17 of the 31 Departments and Offices have a proportion of 3 per cent or higher of disabled people on their staff and a further six Departments have a proportion of over 2 per cent. The Department of Finance continually exhorts individual Departments to achieve a 3 per cent quota. Experience suggests that the approach of seeking a 3 per cent overall Civil Service quota is an effective measure. However, if in the future it should emerge that this approach is no longer achieving the desired results, the Minister for Finance would consider seriously the possibility of individual quotas.

While the matter is kept continuously under review, there are no plans at the moment to alter the manner in which the 3 per cent quota operates. The priority at present is to ensure that the quota is maintained; and the working environment in the Civil Service is such that staff with disabilities can contribute to their full potential.

The policy on the employment of people with disabilities in the Civil Service is implemented by

(a) from time to time holding special competitions, or establishing sub-panels from general competitions, confined to people who are registered with, or entitled to be registered with, the National Rehabilitation Board as having a disability, (b) facilitating people with a disability when competing in open competitions not confined to people with a disability and (c) where possible, retaining staff who become disabled after their recruitment.

While the emphasis for some time has been on the achievement of the target quota, it is also important to ensure equality of treatment between staff with and without disabilities once in employment. With this in mind, the code of practice, drawn up in 1993, covers issues such as recruitment, reception and integration into the workplace, career development, accommodation and equipment and safety and evacuation procedures. The code of practice was developed in conjunction with the Civil Service unions, the relevant voluntary bodies and in consultation with staff with disabilities.

The Civil Service, as an employer, is committed to a policy of equal opportunity for people with disabilities, which includes ensuring that people with disabilities who are capable of effective performance in the jobs to which they aspire are not disadvantaged by reason of having a disability.

Percentage of Staff with Disabilities in the Civil Service as of 1 October 1995, shown by Department.

Department-Office	% of Staff with a disability
	%
Agriculture, Food and Forestry	2
Arts, Culture and the Gaeltacht	4
Defence	5
Education	3
Enterprise and Employment	4
Environment	3
Equality and Law Reform	6
Finance Group (i)	3
Foreign Affairs	3
Health	3
Justice Group	3
Marine	5
Office of Public Works (ii)	4
Office of the Tánaiste	0
Revenue Commissioners (ii)	2
Social Welfare	3
Taoiseach's Group (iii)	5
Tourism and Trade	3
Transport, Energy and Communications	3
Overall Total	3

(i) Includes the Civil Service Commission, the Office of the Comptroller and Auditor General, the Houses of the Oireachtas, the Ombudsman's Office, the President's Establishment, the State Laboratory, the Valuation Office and the Ordnance Survey in addition to the Department of Finance.

(ii) Under the aegis of the Minister for Finance, but shown separately in view of the numbers of staff employed.

(iii) Includes the Offices of the Attorney General and the Chief State Solicitor, the Central Statistics Office and the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions, in addition to the Department of the Taoiseach.