Catherine Murphy (Kildare North, Independent)
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Question 288: To ask the Minister for Finance if and when it is intended to implement the recommendations of the report commissioned by the equality unit of the Department of Finance which examined the issue of career progression for people with disability in the Civil Service; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34385/05]

Brian Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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Research into the employment and career progression of civil servants with disabilities was commissioned as part of a review of the Government's 3% employment target for people with a disability.

Following the consultants' report which, in particular, showed that 7% of existing staff have disabilities, the Government approved a number of proposals to improve the operation of the policy which included: the development of a new code of practice to assist people with disabilities in working in the service; new monitoring arrangements to ensure proper career progression and the continued provision of significant employment opportunities for people with disabilities within the Civil Service.

The Government also approved the appointment of a full-time disability advisory officer to build up a body of expertise which can be drawn on by Departments and individuals.

A number of steps have been taken to implement the Government decision. Departments have been fully informed about the Government decision on the new policy approach. The executive summary of the research can be found on the Department of Finance website www.finance.gov.ie. In addition, in July 2004, Circular 18/04: Career Progression of People with a Disability in the Irish Civil Service was issued to all staff in the Civil Service. The circular sets out the main conclusions and recommendations of the research report and highlights the key areas where actions will be taken to implement the recommendations.

A document entitled 20 Actions for 2004 was issued to Departments setting out a number of practical steps in the light of the report's recommendations, which could be taken in the short term to support staff with a disability. These suggestions were drawn up by the equality unit, Department of Finance, with input from individual staff with disabilities, and agreed with the staff side at the disability sub-committee of general council.

A disability liaison officers, DLOs, network was set up on a formal basis in spring 2005 and has been meeting regularly. The objective of the network is to allow DLOs to share knowledge and best practice in relation to the employment of people with disabilities, and to ensure that DLOs are kept up to date on legal requirements under employment legislation. The research report identified the DLOs as vital to the implementation of a refocused disability policy, through their role of support and information provision to staff with disabilities and to supervisors to whom someone with a disability is being assigned.

A competition for the post of disability advisory officer, DAO, was held and the successful candidate took up her post on 17 October 2005. The principal duties of the DAO will include preparing a new code of practice and developing a more effective approach to recording data and monitoring employment trends among civil servants with disabilities. Discussions on recruitment of people with disabilities into the Civil Service have taken place with the Public Appointments Service with a view to running appropriate competitions at an early date.

Work is well advanced on the development of a new code of practice. The advice and guidance of the National Disability Authority is being obtained in relation to the development of the new code of practice, in particular, on the new approaches to recruitment of people with disabilities and to the provision of appropriate support to people when they are in employment in the service.

Discussions are continuing between the equality unit in my Department and the Civil Service staff unions on the further implementation of the Government decision. In my view, the new approach is a very significant step forward in the development of policy in this area.