Pat Carey (Dublin North West, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 313: To ask the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources the percentage of persons with disabilities employed in his Department and in each body under his aegis; the guidelines issued by which this data is to be recorded in the public service; the nature of the disabilities; the levels of employment; the percentage of the total numbers of persons with disabilities in each sector who are holders of third level qualifications; the precise definition of disability which is used in the public service to meet the 3% quota; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34142/05]

Noel Dempsey (Meath, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Data show that 4.3% of staff in my Department have disabilities. According to the latest data provided by bodies under the aegis of my Department, which relates to the end of 2004, 2.79% of the total workforce employed in the bodies which reported have disabilities. The policy on the 3% target for the employment of people with disabilities in the Civil Service is the responsibility of the Minister for Finance. The guidelines used to date by my Department for the employment of people with disabilities and related monitoring are set out in the Code of Practice for the Civil Service 1994.

My Department works with the Departments of Finance, Justice, Equality and Law Reform and other Departments, the bodies under its aegis and the National Disability Authority in the implementation of the provisions of the Disability Act 2005, including those relating to the recruitment and employment of people with disabilities in the public service. The persons with disabilities in my Department are distributed across various grade levels. Specific information on the educational qualifications of those staff with disabilities is not held separately by the Department or the bodies under my Department's aegis.