Paudge Connolly (Cavan-Monaghan, Independent)
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Question 300: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs the number of persons with disabilities employed in his Department; the percentage of the total staff that this represents; the human resources policy of his Department with regard to the recruitment of persons with disabilities; the qualification criteria for persons with disabilities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8896/06]

Dermot Ahern (Louth, Fianna Fail)
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The target for the employment of people with disabilities in the Civil Service is 3%. Policy on this target is the responsibility of the Department of Finance.

The guidelines for monitoring the target are set out in the 1994 code of practice for the Civil Service. 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".

The Department of Foreign Affairs, through its human resources strategy, is strongly committed to positive action designed to enhance employment opportunities for persons with disabilities. The compilation of statistics in this area is very sensitive. Some officials who would be considered as "disabled" under the above definition might well not welcome being included in any public categorisation in this area. In these circumstances, including the protection of the also sensitive monitoring process, I would prefer not to go further than to state that the percentage of staff with a disability in the Department currently stands at approximately 3.5%, that is, significantly above the 3% target.