Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 16 April 2019
103. Deputy Brendan Ryan asked the Taoiseach the number or percentage of employees in his Department and in the agencies under his aegis with intellectual disabilities; and his plans to increase this number to promote and support the employment of persons with intellectual disabilities as outlined in the Disability Act 2005. [17494/19]
View answer104. Deputy Brendan Ryan asked the Taoiseach if his Department and the agencies under his aegis track the numbers of employees they have with an intellectual disability; and his plans to do so in order to help set targets and increase workplace opportunities for those with intellectual disabilities such as those outlined in the national disability inclusion strategy. [17511/19]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 103 and 104 together.
As at 31 December 2017, 4.6% of the staff of my Department and 5.9% of the staff of the National Economic and Social Development Office (NESDO) voluntarily and confidentially disclosed a disability. This exceeds the current minimum requirement of 3% for public sector organisations set down in the Disability Act, 2005. Under the Act disability is defined as a substantial restriction in the capacity of the person to carry on a profession, business or occupation in the State or to participate in social or cultural life in the State by reason of an enduring physical, sensory, mental health or intellectual impairment;
Recruitment to my Department is, in the main, undertaken through the Public Appointments Service. My Department is committed to a policy of equal opportunity for all staff. Staff are recruited on the basis that they meet the requirements of the positions they are to fill. My Department also participates in positive action programmes such as the Willing, Able and Mentoring Programme under the aegis of the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform.
The National Disability Inclusion Strategy provides for an increase in the Public Sector employment targets of persons with disabilities from 3% to 6% by 2024.
In order to achieve this target, my Department will co-operate fully with any initiatives implemented by the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform and the Public Appointments Service who have responsibility for implementing a pro-active approach to employing people with disabilities across the Public Service in line with the Disability Act 2005.
