John Dennehy (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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Question 320: To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment 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. [13275/06]

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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My Department currently exceeds the 3% target for the employment of people with disabilities in the Civil Service, with 4.2% of staff recorded as having a disability.

In addition, my Department is to participate in the willing able mentoring project this summer. This project, which is administered by the Association of Higher Education Access and Disability, aims to provide graduates with disabilities with temporary placements with public and private sector employers.

The policy with regard to the 3% target for the employment of people with disabilities is the responsibility of my colleague, the Minister for Finance. However, it may be of interest to note that independent research was carried out into the operation of the 3% target by consultants commissioned by the Department of Finance. The research found, inter alia, that 7% of Civil Service staff had a disability.

On foot of the consultants' recommendations, the Government approved proposals to improve the operation of the policy. These proposals included the development of a new, detailed code of practice for the employment of people with disabilities, a more effective approach to monitoring staff with a disability, a new approach to recruitment and placement and the appointment of a full-time disability advisory officer.