Pat Carey (Dublin North West, Fianna Fail)
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Question 374: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs 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. [34146/05]

Séamus Brennan (Dublin South, Fianna Fail)
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The current position in my Department is that 155, or 3.29% of the total staff of my Department are persons with disabilities. The main natures of disabilities in the Department are visual and hearing impairments, physical disabilities and emotional health difficulties. The following table shows the grade breakdown of persons with disabilities in the Department of Social and Family Affairs;

In recording staff with disabilities, the Department does not record whether they hold a third level qualification. The guidelines followed by the Department for monitoring and recording the number of staff with disabilities are set out in the code of practice for the employment of people with a disability in the Civil Service, 1994. The collection of these statistics is carried out in line with a policy of equal opportunity as stated in this code of practice.

On behalf of the Department of Finance, an independent research study was carried out on the operation of the 3% target. This research identified problems with the existing system of recording and monitoring of staff with a disability in the Civil Service. The Government, in 2004, approved proposals to improve the operation of the policy. Specific guidelines on monitoring and recording staff with a disability will be developed by the Department of Finance, as part of a new code of practice for the employment of people with a disability in the Civil Service.

The definition of a disability used by the Department, and the agencies under its aegis, is the definition set out in the code of practice. In this context, the term "people with disabilities" means people with a physical, sensory or psychological impairment which may:

have a tangible impact on their functional capability to do a particular job; or have an impact on their ability to function in a particular physical environment; or lead to a discrimination in obtaining or keeping employment of a kind for which they would otherwise be suited.

In the agencies under the aegis of my Department, there are a total of 239 people employed. The percentages of staff with disabilities in each agency are as follows:

Recruitment to the agencies is by means of open competition or, in certain instances, by staff transferring from the Department. The agencies are aware of the commitment to the target of 3% and this matter will again be followed up with them in the context of the development of the new code of practice on the employment of people with a disability by the Department of Finance.

Due to the relatively small number of staff in these agencies, it would not be appropriate to provide more detailed information regarding staff with disabilities such as the nature of their disabilities, their grades and their qualifications, in order to maintain the confidentiality of the people involved.