Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)

I thank the Taoiseach for his reply. The Disability Act provides for sectoral plans to be drawn up by a number of Departments. Does the Taoiseach's Department have an overarching responsibility with regard to the drawing up of these plans and an oversight role with regard to their implementation?

Does the Taoiseach recall that the Act states that the Minister for Finance may, by order, specify compliance targets relating to the recruitment and employment of persons with disabilities in public bodies, the members of whose staff are civil servants, and the public bodies accountable to the relevant Minister? Has any such order been made with regard to the Taoiseach's Department?

Given the minimum requirement under the Act for levels of employment of people with disabilities, are higher targets set? I am interested to know the detail with regard to the Taoiseach's Department is 3%. Will the Taoiseach advise us if that minimum target set out in the Act has been achieved in his Department or have higher targets been set and agreed and, if so, have they been reached? How does his Department compare with other Departments in that regard?

See this speech in context