Vol. 566 No. 1
359 Mr. Stanton asked the Minister for Education and Science the policy of his Department with regard to the employment of persons with disabilities; the actions that have been taken to encourage, enable and assist people with disabilities to gain employment in his Department and in bodies under the aegis of his Department; the current situation with regard to persons with disabilities employed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12149/03]
My Department is committed to a policy of equal opportunity with regard to the employment of people with disabilities, as is the Civil Service Commission, through which the majority of staff are assigned to Government Departments. Where staff are recruited directly by my Department, Government policy in respect of the employment of people with disabilities is adhered to. Bodies under the aegis of my Department are advised of all such Government policies. The most recent data available for the year ended December 2002 indicate that the percentage of people with disabilities employed by my Department was 2.43%.
