Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Tuesday, 31 Jan 1995

Vol. 448 No. 3

Written Answers. - Public Service Employment Quota.

Eric J. Byrne

Ceist:

89 Mr. E. Byrne asked the Minister for Equality and Law Reform the progress that has been made with regard to the three per cent quota for the employment of people with a disability in the public service; whether he intends putting the quota on a statutory basis; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2167/95]

Minister for Equality and Law Reform (Mr. Taylor)

On the basis of the latest information available to me, which relates to year-ending 31 December 1993, the position regarding the employment of people with disabilities in the Civil Service is that the 3 per cent quota had been exceeded. In the case of the health boards and local authorities, the percentage of employees comprising people with disabilities was 1.02 per cent and 1.25 per cent respectively.

My Department is in regular contact with the Departments of Finance, Health and the Environment to ensure that human resource managers in bodies under their control are aware of the Government's commitment to reaching the 3 per cent quota and that every effort is made to reach it as soon as possible.

My Department is represented on the monitoring committee for the employment of people with disabilities, which operates under the aegis of the central review committee which oversees implementation of theProgramme for Competitiveness and Work. The monitoring committee is responsible for promoting and reviewing progress in the employment of people with disabilities in the public and private sectors. I understand that it is actively seeking to ensure that the quota is met in the wider public sector.

The Commission on the Status of People with Disabilities, which I established in 1993, has appointed a work and training group to examine the employment and training needs of people with disabilities and to draft recommendations, for consideration by the commission, with a view to improving their employment prospects. Pending receipt of the commission's recommendations in this regard, I feel it would not be appropriate to seek to place the quota on a statutory basis.