Written answers

Tuesday, 27 June 2006

Department of Foreign Affairs

Equal Opportunities Employment

11:00 pm

Photo of Ivor CallelyIvor Callely (Dublin North Central, Fianna Fail)
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Question 311: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs the targeted percentage of employment of people with a disability by his Department; if the 3 per cent target be surpassed or is his Department restricted to this percentage; the percentage of people with a disability employed in his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24820/06]

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

The compilation of statistics in this very 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 3.5%.

My Department is looking 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. The purpose of this project is to provide between three and six months work experience for graduates with disabilities. The Department is pleased to have been able recently to offer a six-month placement to a graduate under this scheme.

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