Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 17 January 2024
426. Deputy Pauline Tully asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if, in line with Action 76 of the Autism Committee’s Final Report, he has plans to provide autism training to all public sector interviewers to address any biases against autistic people and ensure equality of opportunity for employment; and the estimated first- and full-year cost, respectively, of implementing this proposal. [57265/23]
View answer427. Deputy Pauline Tully asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if, in line with Action 78 of the Autism Committee’s Final Report, he has plans to provide the option of remote job interviews by video call and other reasonable accommodations to prospective employees in the public sector; and the estimated first- and full-year cost, respectively, of implementing this proposal. [57267/23]
View answer428. Deputy Pauline Tully asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if, in line with Action 79 of the Autism Committee’s Final Report, he has plans to develop a long-term plan for the State to provide a high-quality public employment service directly to autistic people and disabled people to ensure equal availability of employment services to disabled people across the State; and the estimated first- and full-year cost, respectively, of implementing this proposal. [57268/23]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 426 to 428, inclusive, together.
As Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment I cannot develop plans for public sector appointments or for the training of public sector interviewers as I do not have policy responsibility in this area.
I note the report on Autism recommends a range of initiatives regarding public sector recruitment and employment practices to ensure that they are autism-friendly.
My colleague, the Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform has policy responsibility for recruitment policy in the civil/public service. The Public Appointments Service (PAS) is a body under the aegis of the Department Public Expenditure, NDP Delivery and Reform and is the primary recruiter for the civil service and some parts of the public service.
The Public Service Management (Recruitment and Appointments) Act 2004 assigns powers to PAS regarding the undertaking of recruitment for the civil service and certain other public service bodies. These powers include responsibility for operational issues in recruitment in the public service bodies for which PAS has remit.
