Bertie Ahern (Dublin Central, Fianna Fail)

Promotion, training and all other benefits, supports and opportunities for staff in the Civil Service and public service are decided on the grounds of ability, qualifications and other relevant objective criteria. The percentage of staff with a disability in my Department is 3%, equivalent to six and a half members of staff. This meets the target recommended in the Disability Act 2005.

My Department, through the Office of Public Works, maintains best accessibility practice. The Department is currently conducting an access audit with the OPW to ensure compliance with the requirements of the Disability Act 2005 and to further improve the Department's existing physical facilities and services. It is not the Department's view that efforts in this area should cease because the target of 3% is met. We have exceeded that target in the past but when people retire, transfer to another Department or leave, the percentage reduces. The Department of Finance monitors the situation in all Departments carefully and it is my understanding that most meet the target. The Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform is responsible for monitoring the performance of external agencies.

We constantly seek to improve services. My Department and most other Departments provide access to information to staff and visitors with a disability in a variety of formats. In the past few years we have extended the services to include Braille, simple text documents and large print. Hearing loops for those with hearing aids are installed in the welcoming pavilion, the reception and the press centre. Relevant technologies are supplied to staff and visitors as necessary. Accessibility tools are part of the standard desktop used in the Department. Our websites are monitored on an ongoing basis to ensure we meet commitments under the web accessibility initiative. The websites currently comply with levels one and two as specified under that initiative. Everything possible is being done to make the Department accessible to visitors and staff, and these efforts are monitored and encouraged.

It would be better if the percentage of staff with disabilities were higher than 3%. Some Departments, however, have gone to extraordinary lengths to achieve higher figures. The sectoral plans we published last year, in accordance with the Disability Act, are designed to facilitate an increase in the numbers of people with disabilities employed in the Civil Service and public service. We should not be satisfied with an employment rate of 3%. The best approach is to provide the facilities necessary to enhance accessibility and that is being done.

See this speech in context