Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 14 June 2018
88. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Education and Skills when a reply will issue to correspondence from a person (details supplied); the reason it has taken over two months to reply to same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26059/18]
View answerThe issue referred to by the Deputy refers to reasonable accommodation for an employee with a disability. The Employment Equality Acts require employers to take reasonable steps to accommodate the needs of employees and prospective employees with disabilities. Reasonable accommodation typically involves some modification to the tasks/structure of a job or workplace environment, which would enable such an employee to fully perform their work role and enjoy equal employment opportunities. However, employers are not obliged to provide special treatment or facilities if the cost of doing so is excessive or disproportionate.
Under Section 24 of the Education Act, 1998 (as amended by the Education (Amendment Act, 2012) the Board of Management is the employer. The Board of Management should therefore explore in conjunction with the employee, the appropriate School Management Body and the Occupational Health Service any appropriate enabling options.
In response to the school’s correspondence of 23/3/2018 my Department wrote to the school on 20/4/2018 advising the Principal in relation to the obligations of employers as outlined above.
