Vol. 566 No. 1
394 Mr. Stanton asked the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism 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. [12151/03]
I am fully conscious of the policy and code of practice for the employment of people with disabilities in the Civil Service. My Department has achieved the target of 3% for the employment of people with a disability under the Programme for Prosperity and Fairness. The percentage of staff with a disability working in my Department on 31 December 2002 was 3.18%.
I can assure the Deputy that every effort will continue to be made to maintain and increase the number of people with a disability working in my Department against the background that the Department's recruitment is in the main conducted by the Office of the Civil Service Commissioners. The bodies under the aegis of this Department are closely monitored by my Department regarding their progress in reaching the 3% target under the Programme for Prosperity and Fairness. These bodies are regularly reminded of the commitment given in the PPF agreement of reaching a 3% target of employing persons with a disability and are constantly encouraged to adopt a proactive position to increase the numbers of staff with a disability employed in the organisation. These bodies have been encouraged to put in place a code of practice for employment of people with disabilities.
