Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 11 Mar 1997

Vol. 476 No. 2

Written Answers. - Employment of People with Disabilities.

Liam Hyland

Question:

22 Mr. Hyland asked the Minister for Equality and Law Reform the number of disabled people employed in the public service; if he has satisfied himself with the level of recruitment of disabled people by the public service; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6660/97]

Desmond J. O'Malley

Question:

30 Mr. O'Malley asked the Minister for Equality and Law Reform the funding which will be made available to the Council for the Status of People with Disabilities; the staffing arrangements, if any, which have been agreed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6661/97]

Minister for Equality and Law Reform (Mr. Taylor)

I propose to take Questions Nos. 22 and 30 together.

The monitoring committee on the employment of people with disabilities, which operated on foot of the provisions of the Programme for Competitiveness and Work, carried out a survey to determine the position at end-December 1995 in relation to the employment of people with disabilities in the public service. I understand that the survey determined that there were 2,654 people with disabilities employed in the public service at that time. This represented 1.49 per cent of the total number employed. Work remains to be done to achieve the 3 per cent quota already reached in the Civil Service. My Department has engaged in consultations with the Departments of Finance, Health and Environment to ensure that human resource managers in bodies under their control are aware of the Government's commitment to reaching the 3 per cent quota and to ensure that every effort is made to reach it as soon as possible. An officer of my Department also served on the monitoring committee.

Partnership 2000 for inclusion, employment and competitiveness provides that the 3 per cent quota will be met in the public service during the period of the partnership. In this regard, the following measures will be undertaken: responsibility for meeting the target will be assigned to a senior executive in each health board, local authority, vocational education committee and State-sponsored body; a co-ordinated strategy will be put in place including, the preparation and active promotion of codes of practice on the employment of people with disabilities, similar to existing codes in the Civil Service and the ESB; the maintenance of proper records of employment of people with disabilities, subject to the requirement of confidentiality and privacy; and the identification of suitable employment opportunities, targets and specific timescales.

The recommendations of the Commission on the Status of People with Disabilities in relation to work and training, including those relating to employment in the public service, are being considered by the interdepartmental task force which I established to draw up a plan of action on the rights of people with disabilities. The plan of action is due to be submitted to Government around mid-year. I am providing £300,000 to fund the interim Council for the Status of People with Disabilities in 1997.

I understand that the national board of the interim council has been elected and arrangements are being completed jointly by thead-hoc establishment group and the national board for the handover of responsibility for the interim council to the national board. It is intended that this work will be completed by the end of the month. The question of staffing arrangements is a matter for the interim council. I have no function in this regard.