Services for People with Disabilities

Thursday, 13 July 2017

Questions (161)

Margaret Murphy O'Mahony

Question:

161. Deputy Margaret Murphy O'Mahony asked the Minister for Finance the way his Department is improving services and increasing supports for persons with disabilities during 2017. [34032/17]

View answer

Written answers

The Department is aware of its obligations as set out in the Disability Act of 2005. In line with the legislation a Disability Liaison Officer (DLO) and Access Officers are in place within the Department. The contact details for these officers are available of the Department's website

http://www.finance.gov.ie/who-we-are/acess-officers-department/access-officers-department#overlay-context.

The Department works closely with the National Disability Authority (NDA) in ensuring its compliance with the legislation in relation to the employment of persons with disabilities and since 2014, the Department's obligations under the legislation have been satisfied.

The DLO attends bi-monthly Disability Liaison Officer Network meetings to share knowledge and assist other DLOs across the Civil Service, as well as engaging with staff in accessing training and learning events, where needed. An example of engagement includes during 2016 and 2017, the Department employed speed typists to assist staff at various learning events.

Over the last year, a major refurbishment project was undertaken by OPW here in Government Buildings on Merrion Street. As part of this project, for example, electronic access doors have been installed to assist the movement of staff across our campus. Ergonomic assessments are currently being undertaken for all staff in both in the Merrion St. campus and our offices in Tullamore.

The Department's Press Office is currently works closely with the IT function on a redesign of the Department's Website in order to be more user friendly and I can confirm that the Press Office and the Corporate Office have not received any requests for information, outside of the standard written format, for example through Braille, in 2016 or 2017.