John Dennehy (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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Question 251: To ask the Minister for Finance 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. [13271/06]

Brian Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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The Department of Finance, in common with all other Civil Service Departments and offices, fully implements the Government's policy on the employment of people with a disability.

The Deputy may wish to note that, as part of a review of policy on the employment of people with a disability in the Civil Service, my Department commissioned independent research into the operation of the 3% employment target. A survey carried out as part of this research, which was published as Employment and Career Progression of people with a disability in the Irish Civil Service, IPA 2002, shows that 7% of Civil Service staff have a disability compared with the 2% to 3% generally reported in the annual surveys. The consultants, therefore, concluded that the arrangements in regard to reporting disabilities needed to be addressed.

In the light of the consultants' recommendations, the Government approved proposals from the Minister for Finance to improve the operation of the existing policy. These included, first, the development, in conjunction with the staff unions, of a new code of practice for all Departments to support staff with a disability and, second, ensuring that the Civil Service continues to provide employment opportunities which might not otherwise exist for people with a disability.

The possible use of a survey based on voluntary self-disclosure both for new staff on appointment and for existing staff will be considered in discussion with the staff unions as part of the development of the code of practice. As this gives rise to complex issues about confidentiality and the use of information, specific guidelines on these matters are being examined as part of the new code of practice for the Civil Service. It is estimated that the percentage of staff in the Department of Finance with a disability currently stands at 2.85% based on reporting arrangements which as outlined above are under review.