Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
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Question 212: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the on-going education and training programmes in place for officials at her Department to educate them in the complex area of congenital disabilities such as spina bifida and hydrocephalus; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3640/09]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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My Department has an on-going programme of disability awareness training for all key staff involved in service delivery in accordance with its Sectoral Plan under the Disability Act 2005. This programme was developed by the Staff Development Unit of my Department following consultations with service delivery areas and a number of external disability consultants and organisations.

The Disability Awareness Training Programme does not focus on a specific disability but provides a general overview of the different types of disability, current equality and disability legislation, the difficulties such disabilities can present to individuals and best practice in customer service.

The programme is reviewed on a regular basis to include up-to-date information regarding disability issues that may affect customer service.