Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 27 January 2021
83. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the absolute and relative number of persons with disabilities employed by his Department in each of the years 1 January 2015 to 31 December 2020; if these persons are in full-time or part-time roles; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4525/21]
View answerThe following table below sets out the number of employees who have declared a disability for the years 2015 to 2019 Disability statistics for 2020 are currently being compiled.
|
Year |
Total No. of Staff |
No. of Staff who declared a disability as part of the annual census under the Disability Act 2005 |
|
2015 |
267 |
11 |
|
2016 |
349 |
11 |
|
2017 |
387 |
14 |
|
2018 |
412 |
14 |
|
2019 |
399 |
15 |
While all posts in my Department are full-time, the Civil Service provides a range of flexible working opportunitiesto staff. Schemes, such as the Shorter Working Year Scheme, and a wide variety of worksharing patterns, are available to support staff in the achievement of a good work life balance.
The numbers set out only reflect employees that have declared a disability, given that the declaration of a disability is voluntary.
The Disability Act 2005 sets out the legal obligations of public service bodies and includes:
- the promotion and support of the employment of people with disabilities
- compliance with any statutory Code of Practice
- meeting the target of 3% of employing people with disabilities and
- reporting annually on the achievement of these obligations.
My Department adheres to its requirements as set out by Disability Act of 2005 and is committed to a policy of equality of opportunity for all staff.
