Pat Carey (Dublin North West, Fianna Fail)
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Question 424: To ask the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht 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. [34148/05]

Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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Some 2.65% of staff currently employed in my Department are persons who were recruited with disabilities. These officers range from grades of clerical officer to higher executive officer. I have no direct function in the recruitment process of the bodies under the aegis of my Department. I am informed that in relation to Údarás na Gaeltachta the percentage of employees with disabilities is 6%. In relation to other bodies under the aegis of my Department to which the 3% target applies — Bord na Leabhar Gaeilge, Arramara Teoranta and the Western Development Commission — I am informed these bodies do not employ anyone with a disability. However, these are very small bodies and in each case, the 3% target would represent less than one person. The guidelines followed for monitoring the employment of people with disabilities for both the Civil Service and the public sector are set out in the Code of Practice for the Civil Service 1994.

For the sake of completeness, I should add that I am informed that the percentage of people with disabilities employed by ADM is 2.8%. The guidelines followed by ADM are outlined in its company's code on the employment of people with disabilities. Through this code, ADM is committed to attracting and retaining staff with disabilities and at the very minimum achieving the Government target of 3%.

The definition of a person with a disability for the purpose of the 3% target is the positive action definition set out in the Code of Practice for the Civil Service 1994. 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".

Annual returns are made to the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform in respect of the public sector employees with a disability, and to the Department of Finance in respect of the Civil Service employees with a disability. The nature of the disabilities involved is as defined in the code. Information on specific qualifications held is not currently collected.