Alan M. Dukes
Question:44 Mr. Dukes asked the Minister for Social, Community and Family Affairs the action he has taken to employ people with a disability within his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15155/01]
Written Answers. - Civil Service Recruitment.
Recruitment of persons with disabilities in the main Civil Service grades is done by the Civil Service Commissioners and some five appointments as clerical officer have been made in recent months. Further assignments are expected to be made in the course of the year. In addition, four people with disabilities have been appointed in the past year by way of direct recruitment which falls to be done within the Department.
There has been a long standing policy in the Civil Service to have 3% of serving staff from among those with disabilities. The Department has at all times actively endeavoured to maintain and, where possible, exceed this target figure. At present, some 133 staff of the Department, which represents 3.1% of the staff complement, are people with disabilities.
My Department is committed to providing the training and other support measures to enable staff with disabilities to develop to their full potential.