I propose to take Questions Nos. 337 and 338 together.
My Department is compliant with the Disability Act 2005 and we record and report annually, as required, on the percentage of the staff of the Department who have a disability. However, we do not differentiate between those with an intellectual, physical or sensory disability and this is not a requirement under the Act. In making these returns we are reliant on voluntary disclosure of a disability by officers of the Department on a strictly confidential basis to our Disability Liaison Officer (DLO).
The National Disability Inclusion Strategy 2017-2021 requires the Department, along with all public service bodies, to progressively increase the percentage of our workforce with a disability to 6% by 2024. The Department's most recent return for 2018 showed that 4.6% of our workforce have a disability and we are committed to achieving the target of 6% by 2024. The Department engages in the following activities to promote and support the employment of people with a disability:
- Follows the Civil Service Code of Practice for the Employment of People with Disabilities
- Has a designated DLO to act as the point of contact for staff with disabilities, their line managers and the HR Unit to provide assistance and support to both staff and their line managers by the provision of information, advice and supports, where necessary
- Participates in the Job Shadow Initiative - in 2018 four people with a disability were placed in the Department under this initiative
- Provides SAFETalk training to staff
In 2019 the Department will participate in the Willing Able Mentoring Programme and is considering the possibility of taking interns with an intellectual disability under the pilot Internship Programme being proposed by the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform.
My Department is collating the response in respect of agencies under its aegis other than the HSE and will respond to the Deputy as soon as possible. These questions have been referred to the HSE for attention and direct reply in respect of its employees.