Paudge Connolly (Cavan-Monaghan, Independent)
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Question 264: To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the number and percentage of disabled persons currently employed in his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33762/06]

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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The number of persons employed by my Department recorded as having a disability is currently 44, which represents 4.27% of the current total staff number. My Department therefore exceeds the 3% target for the employment of people with disabilities required of all Government Departments.

My Department is committed to developing the careers of its staff with disabilities, a commitment which is enshrined in the Department's Human Resource Strategy 2005 – 2007. Further, my Department has a Disability Liaison Officer who provides advice and information to staff with disabilities and their managers.

The Disability Liaison Officer, as a member of the Disability Liaison Officer Network, is also contributing to the ongoing work between the Department of Finance and the National Disability Authority in developing a tool to effectively monitor the number of staff with disabilities employed in the Civil Service.

In addition, my Department is currently participating in the Willing Able Mentoring (WAM) Project. 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.