Vol. 410 No. 7
13 Mr. Deasy asked the Minister for Labour if he will outline the percentage of physically handicapped people among the workforce in (a) Government Departments, (b) semi-State bodies, (c) local authorities and (d) private enterprises; and if he will give details of voluntary or statutory guidelines laid down for such employment.
I have responsibility for the implementation of a Government decision taken in 1977 which set a target of 3 per cent for the employment of disabled persons in the public service.
Statistics on the employment of handicapped people in the public service are not collected on the basis of the nature of the handicap but relate to disabled persons in general.
I refer the Deputy to my reply to Parliamentary Question No. 102 on 21 May 1991 for details of the number of disabled persons employed in all Government Departments, local authorities, State bodies and health boards.
The employment of handicapped persons in the private sector is a matter for the Minister for Health.
Is the Minister happy that the 3 per cent criterion has been attained in the public sector generally?
Some agencies are very good and the 3 per cent criterion is rigidly followed by their personnel departments, which are normally the bodies given the responsibility of implementation. However, as will be noted from the detailed reply I gave in May, many agencies and their personnel departments do not meet that criterion, for whatever reason. I cannot claim credit for the number of disabled persons employed by the Department of Labour, because I think it was my predecessors in the Department who were responsible for that overall. The Department of Labour employs a great number of disabled people and they work very well within the workforce. I continue to encourage both my colleagues and semi-State organisations to follow the example provided by the Department of Labour.
In relation to part (d) of the question, does the Minister have any control over the percentage or number of disabled persons employed by private industry?
No.
As a result of that reply, does the Minister intend to bring forward legislation to make it a statutory obligation on all employers to provide for a minimum number of disabled persons in their businesses?
The employment of disabled people in the private sector comes within the responsibility of the Minister for Health. However, from the notes I have here, I can tell Deputy Deasy that the Department of Health undertake work in conjunction with the National Rehabilitation Board on the national policy of trying to encourage companies in the training and placement of disabled persons.
Are there any incentives offered to private industry to employ such people?
I am not aware of any such incentives. However, I know that the Department of Labour is always glad to employ disabled persons. A few years ago a Deputy asked me to have the time obstacles for people in receipt of the employment incentive scheme removed. Once an employer takes on a disabled person and he or she is entered in the live register then the employer does not have to follow the other criteria. I am not sure whether there is a national rehabilitation grant, but that benefit is of indirect assistance.
In view of the fact that many Government Departments, semi-State bodies and local authorities do not have 3 per cent of their workforce made up of disabled persons, would the Minister be prepared to reissue a directive to those bodies to do what was intended in 1977? It is fairly obvious at this stage that they have not carried out the wishes of the Minister of the day in that regard.
Last year I issued a letter to all those organisations. I could certainly do that again. I have already mentioned my own Department, but I should like to also acknowledge the efforts made by some companies. The Electricity Supply Board has almost 6 per cent of its workforce comprised of disabled persons. That is a great number of people and is a clear example of a company making an effort. There are other companies and organisations, the Blood Transfusion Board is one, that make a genuine effort in that regard. I shall again circulate a letter urging State organisations to make a greater effort.
