John Dennehy (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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Question 284: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs if his Department is meeting the agreed national target figures for employment of persons with a disability; his views on whether that figure is adequate; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13273/06]

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 compilation of statistics in this sensitive area is dependent, to a large extent, on voluntary self-disclosure of a disability by staff. However, I am satisfied that the percentage of staff with a disability in the Department of Foreign Affairs is in excess of the 3% target. Our estimate would put the figure at about 3.4%.

My Department looks forward to participating in the willing able mentoring — WAM — project, which is administered by AHEAD, the Association of Higher Education Access and Disability, and supported by the Department of Finance. It aims to provide between three and six months work experience opportunities for graduates with disabilities. My Department intends to offer two WAM work placements in 2006.