David Stanton (Cork East, Fine Gael)
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Question 386: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the details of the contact between her Department and the Public Appointments Service to improve the recruitment of people with disabilities through the enhancement of policies and procedures, in particular in respect of the open competition for people with disabilities for executive and administrative officer grades as per the commitment in her Department's Disability Act sectoral plan; the changes which that have been made as a result; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [46504/08]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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In accordance with the commitments outlined in the Sectoral Plan under the Disability Act 2005, the Department liaises regularly with the Public Appointments Service with regard to the appointment of people with a disability from competitions. The required supports are identified and put in place prior to the person's appointment. In addition, the Department conducts workplace assessments for all new entrants with a disability and for those who may acquire a disability during their employment, with a view to providing any necessary and appropriate workplace accommodations.

The Department was represented on the Public Appointments Service committee that designed the Recruitment and Selection Toolkit. The Toolkit provides practical advice on transparent and effective merit based selection systems and includes advice on equality and diversity friendly initiatives and actions.

In addition, the Department is also represented on the cross departmental Disability Liaison Officers Network Group, which was consulted regarding recruitment procedures for the open competition for appointment to the position of Executive Officer and Administrative Officer in the Civil Service confined to persons with Disabilities in 2007.

The competition referred to by the Deputy was organised by the Public Appointments Service in accordance the Code of Practice for the Appointment of Persons with Disabilities in the Civil Service and Certain Public Bodies.