David Stanton (Cork East, Fine Gael)
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Question 176: To ask the Taoiseach 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. [2595/08]

Bertie Ahern (Dublin Central, Fianna Fail)
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I am satisfied that my Department has met the 3% employment quota for people with disabilities. As of 31 December, 2007, of the 210 staff surveyed in my Department, 7.1% voluntarily disclosed that they had a disability.

Staff are recruited to my Department through the Public Appointments Service on the basis that they meet the requirements of the positions they are to fill.

Recruitment, promotion, training and other benefits or opportunities are decided on objective criteria including the qualifications and suitability of the applicant.

In line with other Departments, we follow the guidelines set out in the Department of Finance's Code of Practice for the Employment of People with Disabilities in the Civil Service.