Bertie Ahern (Dublin Central, Fianna Fail)

I propose to take Questions Nos. 6 to 9, inclusive, together.

My Department is fully committed to ensuring that the spirit and the letter of this legislation are honoured in the way the Department provides its services. We have for many years been conscious of our duty to ensure access to our buildings and services by people with disabilities. At the time of the adaptation of the building for the Department in the early 1990s, many facilities were provided, which have subsequently been improved upon, and we will continue to review facilities and upgrade them as necessary.

To fulfil our obligations under the Disability Act 2005, my Department is establishing an implementation monitoring committee, as a sub-committee of the Department's partnership committee. The monitoring committee will give impetus to progressing disability issues in the Department, with particular emphasis on ensuring that the range of services provided by the Department is accessible to people with disabilities and on engaging staff of the Department actively in the process. The committee will report annually to the National Disability Authority and to me as head of the Department on compliance with the 3% target of the employment of people with disabilities. The percentage of staff with disabilities employed in my Department currently is 3.64%.

The new monitoring committee will review arrangements for providing information to members of the public with disabilities and will establish procedures and set timescales for the provision of information. We will explore possibilities and demand for communications in accessible formats, including use of sign language, braille, audiotapes or any other appropriate method.

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