Vol. 478 No. 6
22 Mr. Callely asked the Minister for Finance the percentage of people with a disability employed in the Civil Service; the proposals, if any, there are to increase such figures; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11553/97]
As of 1 October 1996, there were 800 people with disabilities employed in the Civil Service, representing 2.9 per cent of the staff.
Statistics on the number of people with disabilities employed in the Civil Service are normally gathered annually by reference to 1 October each year. In view of the fact that the number of people with a disability employed in the Civil Service dropped from 829 on 1 October 1995 to 800 on 1 October 1996, bringing the overall percentage to just below 3 per cent, the statistics will be collected twice in 1997, by reference to 1 April 1997 and by reference to 1 October 1997. My officials are currently in the process of gathering the figures for 1 April 1997. In addition, the Government Departments have been urged to make every effort to recruit people with disabilities, having due regard to the staffing targets laid down for each Department.
