asked the Minister for Labour the present position in regard to each of the matters referred to by him in the reply to a parliamentary question of 10 March 1981 as being undertaken at that time to mark the International Year of the Disabled to assist persons with each of the following handicaps (a) impairment of limbs, (b) deafness, (c) speech impairment, (d) blindness and (e) mental handicap; if he will state in each instance where a matter was then being referred to a committee if the committee has reported thereon; and the action taken on its report.
Written Answers. - Assistance for Disabled.
450.
As Minister with general responsibility for the implementation of the 3 per cent quota system for the employment of disabled persons in the public service, I am pleased to report significant progress.
During 1981, as a result of the quota system, the number of disabled persons recruited into the public service increased by 50 per cent to 900 persons approximately. Approximately 170 disabled persons were recruited into the civil service in the year and are employed in various Government Departments, including eight in the Department of Labour. The special programmes organised to facilitate the recruitment of disabled persons will be continued and expanded so that our 3 per cent target will be achieved as quickly as possible.
The breakdown of the 170 persons recruited into the civil service by category of disability is: Speech Impairment, 2; Hearing Impairment, 17; Vision Impairment, 9; Mental Handicap, 4; Physical Handicap, 80; Epilepsy, 13; Cardiac Malfunction, 4; Others, 41.
All categories of disabled persons mentioned by the Deputy are included.
As I mentioned in March 1981, certain groups such as the blind have special employment needs. The interdepartmental committee, at my request, continue to explore ways of increasing further the employment opportunities for visually impaired and sightless persons. Considerable progress has been made by AnCo in the implementation of its ten-point programme mentioned in the reply to the Deputy's question of March 1981. For example:
almost 500 disabled persons attended AnCO training courses in 1982; over half of all training centres are now fully accessible and the National Rehabilitation Board are advising on how the remainder can be made accessible. All new centres will be fully accessible; AnCO now employs 28 disabled persons, five of whom were recruited during 1981; a management team on the disabled has been established; an internal education/ awareness programme on training and working with the disabled has been implemented; promotional literature related to training and employment now includes reference to disabled persons; a film entitled "What Handicap" which will be launched this year was made by RTE in consultation with AnCO and the NRB. AnCO also part-funded the making of the film.
CERT continues to make provision for the training of disabled persons on their courses.