Written answers
Tuesday, 3 October 2006
Department of Finance
Equal Opportunities Employment
9:00 pm
Paudge Connolly (Cavan-Monaghan, Independent)
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Question 287: To ask the Minister for Finance the criteria for persons with disabilities for seeking employment opportunities within his Department; the application procedures that apply; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31047/06]
Paudge Connolly (Cavan-Monaghan, Independent)
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Question 288: To ask the Minister for Finance the number and percentage of disabled persons currently employed in his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31048/06]
Brian Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 287 and 288 together.
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 in relation to 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," 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 relation to reporting disabilities needed to be addressed.
In the light of the consultants' recommendations, the Government approved proposals to improve the operation of the existing policy. These included [a] the development, in conjunction with the staff unions, of a new code of practice for all Departments to support staff with a disability and ensuring that the civil service continues to provide employment opportunities which might not otherwise exist for people with a disability.
A number of significant initiatives have been taken recently. The Department of Finance has recruited a Disability Advisory Officer to develop guidelines in consultation with the Chief Medical Officer for the monitoring, reporting and recording arrangements for staff with a disability in the Civil Service. My Department is working with the National Disability Authority to explore potential new approaches to supporting staff with disabilities, including the possible use of a survey based on voluntary self-disclosure, both for new staff on appointment and for existing staff. A Disability Liaison Officers network involving all Departments has also been set up to share information and advice. It is also important that the Civil Service continues to offer employment opportunities to people with disabilities.
In relation to recruitment, a new approach to the recruitment and placement of people with a disability into the Civil Service is being adopted, which will include special competitions or sub-panels being held from time to time with the aim of ensuring that 3% of all recruits to the Civil Service are people with a disability. Recruitment competitions run by the Public Appointments Service (PAS) are open to all, including people with disabilities, subject to their meeting the eligibility requirements of the competition in question. Application forms invite applicants to indicate if they have special requirements when undergoing the selection process and the PAS makes every effort to facilitate these requests.
In relation to employment in the Department of Finance, my Department is participating in the WAM (Willing Able Mentoring) Project, which is a work experience placement and administered by the Association of Higher Education Access and Disability (AHEAD) which aims to place graduates with disabilities with employers in the public and private sectors.
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