Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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Question 240: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the amount of disability awareness training employees in his Department have had, individually and as a team; and his views on whether it would be feasible to put together a team, under the 3% quota, to carry out presentations on disability awareness around the country. [32823/06]

Michael McDowell (Dublin South East, Progressive Democrats)
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Prior to the publication of the Disability Act 2005 my Department had commenced a process of training in-house staff to provide disability awareness training across the Department. However, having given the matter further consideration it has been decided to seek outside service providers who are specialists in this type of training and who have the capacity and capability to provide a comprehensive training programme for the entire Department including all of its agencies. It is intended to have a service provider in place by the end of 2006 with a view to full roll-out in January 2007. As part of this roll-out the service provider will provide training in all of the regional offices of this Department.

It should be noted that Part 5 of the Disability Act 2005 requires public bodies to achieve a 3% target level in the employment of persons with disabilities. It also sets out structures for monitoring and supporting compliance with the target, giving the National Disability Authority a specific role in this regard. The National Disability Authority is planning a series of seminars for key staff in public bodies during November to build awareness and support the implementation of these requirements. My Department will, where necessary, liaise with the Authority in relation to the provision of our training programme, particularly in relation to standards and suitability.