David Stanton (Cork East, Fine Gael)
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Question 1291: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform further to Parliamentary Question No. 281 of 23 May 2006, if he is satisfied that his Department has met the 3% employment quota for people with disabilities; the percentage of people with disabilities employed in his 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 he will make a statement on the matter. [2593/08]

Brian Lenihan Jnr (Dublin West, Fianna Fail)
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In 2006, in accordance with Part 5 of the Disability Act 2005, my Department commenced compiling data relating to the number of people working in the Department who have a disability. The data received indicates that the percentage of people working in my Department who have a disability is 3.1%, marginally in excess of the 3% employment target. It must be noted that the National Disability Authority has identified certain limitations which are common to all public service and civil service bodies in relation to the data gathering process and it is my understanding that further proposals are to be made by the NDA in this regard. It is not possible to say how many people with disabilities have been hired from outside the Civil Service as people are not required to disclose a disability when they are being employed. However, I can say that my Department does invite new employees to voluntarily disclose if they have a disability in order to try and facilitate reasonable accommodation.