Paudge Connolly (Cavan-Monaghan, Independent)
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Question 156: To ask the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism 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. [37231/06]

John O'Donoghue (Kerry South, Fianna Fail)
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The Public Appointments Service (PAS) conducts most of the recruitment to positions in my Department. A new approach to the recruitment and placement of people with a disability into the Civil Service is now 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.

Furthermore, recruitment competitions run by the 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. My Department is also participating in the WAM (Willing Able Mentoring) Project, which is a work experience placement scheme 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.