Vol. 566 No. 1
757 Mr. Stanton asked the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs 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. [12156/03]
Most recruitment to my Department is through the Office of the Civil Service and Local Appointments Commissioners. My Department is happy to accept disabled candidates from that office as the opportunity arises.
Advertisements for competitions organised by my Department directly clearly state that this Department is an equal opportunities employer.
An officer in my Department has responsibility for equality issues including disability matters. It is part of the duties of this officer to ensure that the needs of staff with a disability are catered for.
Currently, 3.24% of the staff of my Department have disabilities, eight officers out of a core staff compliment of 247. This is in line with the Government target of 3% for the employment of persons with disabilities in the Civil Service.
The recruitment of non civil servants to bodies under the aegis of the Department is a matter for each body. These bodies are however, made aware of the Government targets for employment of staff with disabilities.
