Ivor Callely (Dublin North Central, Fianna Fail)
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Question 326: To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment 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. [24822/06]

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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The policy in relation to the employment of people with disabilities in the civil service, including the setting of compliance targets, is the responsibility of my colleague the Minister for Finance. The Disability Act 2005 provides that the Minister for Finance, with the consent of the Minister for Justice, Equality & Law Reform, may specify compliance targets, and where no such targets are specified, the minimum target shall be 3%.

My Department currently exceeds the 3% target in the Disability Act 2005 for the employment of people with disabilities, with 4.11% of total staff employed in that category.

While my Department continues to exceed the minimum target, it has not become complacent in this regard, and has implemented a number of measures to provide the necessary framework of supports to staff with disabilities. In this regard, it has a Disability Liaison Officer to provide advice and information to staff with disabilities and their managers and has implemented policies to facilitate the career progression of staff with disabilities. Measures have also been taken to encourage the disclosure of a disability, so that an individual's particular needs can be met and his/her circumstances better understood and appreciated.

In addition, my Department is to participate in the Willing Able Mentoring (WAM) Project during this summer. The WAM project, which is administered by the Association of Higher Education Access and Disability (AHEAD), aims to provide graduates with disabilities temporary placements with public and private sector employers.