Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 11 May 2004
415 Mr. Stanton asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the way in which persons with disabilities can access employment in her Department; if there are special application procedures; the criteria by which it is decided that persons qualify; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13253/04]
View answerRecruitment of all persons, including persons with disabilities, in the main Civil Service grades is the statutory responsibility of the Office of the Civil Service and Local Appointments Commission. The commission uses two competition methods to recruit persons with disabilities; the standard open competitions and confined competitions held specifically for persons with disabilities. The entry requirements and the standard necessary to pass the confined competitions are identical to those pertaining to the open competitions.
My Department is directly responsible for recruitment at the services grade level. Recruitment for these grades is conducted by means of advertisement with FÁS. Persons with disabilities are encouraged to apply for the positions. My Department also engages in some direct recruitment of temporary staff outside Dublin to cover short-term absences such as the summer term time period or maternity leave. As is the case with all appointments to the Civil Service, the appointments are subject to the person's being suitable for the duties of the position being filled. As part of my Department's commitment to staff with disabilities, a group was established in 2003 under its workplace partnership process to examine issues relating to the needs of staff with disabilities and to make recommendations about appropriate changes and improvements. The group recently produced its report and its recommendations, including some relating to aspects of recruitment, are being examined.
