David Stanton (Cork East, Fine Gael)
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Question 884: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food further to Parliamentary Question No. 281 of 23 May 2006, if she is satisfied that her Department has met the 3% employment quota for people with disabilities; the percentage of people with disabilities employed in her Department; the number of people with disabilities hired from outside the civil service for each of the years from 2002 to date in 2008; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2582/08]

Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
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As the Deputy is aware, 2006 was the first year of reporting compliance with the 3% employment target under the Disability Act 2005. My Department used the 'Count Me In' survey, prepared by the Department of Finance and the NDA, to collect this data. Of the employees that responded to the survey, 4.1% indicated that they had a disability as defined under the 2005 Act. This information is reported on in the National Disability Authority (NDA) 2006 Report On Compliance with Part 5 of the Disability Act 2005 On Employment of People with Disabilities in the Public Service. As regards 2007, my Department will shortly undertake a census of staff to establish disability status as defined by the Disability Act 2005. My Department supports the WAM (Willing Able and Mentoring) project and has provided a number of work experience placements to graduates with disabilities.

Recruitment to my Department is carried out by the Public Appointments Service. The figures requested by the Deputy regarding the number of people with disabilities hired from outside the civil service for each of the years from 2002 to date in 2008 are not available.