Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 10 Nov 1999

Vol. 510 No. 4

Written Answers. - Civil Service Recruitment.

Michael Ferris

Question:

41 Mr. Ferris asked the Minister for Finance the specific instructions issued to the public service generally regarding the employment target of a minimum of 3 per cent of people with a disability; the steps, if any, he is taking in regard to bodies for which he has direct responsibility; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22716/99]

Minister for Finance (Mr. McCreevy)

I presume that the Deputy is referring to the commitment in paragraph 5.21 of Partnership 2000 regarding a target quota of 3 per cent for employment of people with disabilities in the Public Sector.

As the Deputy may be aware, the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform has primary responsibility for overseeing progress in relation to this commitment.

Earlier this year, a monitoring committee consisting of representatives of the social partners and of Government Departments was inaugurated to oversee progress in relation to this commitment. This committee is chaired by the equal status division of the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform and has met four times since its inception. My Department is represented on the committee.

The committee has recently issued a proposed model code of practice – based on the code of practice of the Local Authority Service, September 1999 – to all Departments and asked that it be modified as appropriate and adopted by all bodies under the aegis of each Department. My Department is currently examining this code with a view to consulting with each of the bodies under its aegis about their adoption of the code.

I refer now to recruitment in the Civil Service. The Civil Service Commission recently announced an open recruitment competition for clerical officers for people who are registered with, or entitled to be registered with, the National Rehabilitation Board as having a disability. A panel of suitably qualified people will be established from this competition. Applicants will be facilitated by the provision of enlarged scripts, braille and audio test material, interpreters for interviews, and wheelchair access to test and interview locations. As soon as a panel of qualified candidates becomes available for appointment, each Head of Department will be encouraged to draw from that panel when recruiting clerical officers.