Róisín Shortall (Dublin North West, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 118: To ask the Minister for Health and Children the extent to which her Department is meeting the agreed national target figures for employment of persons with a disability; and when in each case this target will be met or surpassed. [16105/09]

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Part 5 of the Disability Act, 2005 states that a public body "shall ensure, unless there is good reason to the contrary for not doing so, that not less than 3 percent of the persons employed by it are persons with disabilities". Under Section 47(4) of the Act, my Department reports to the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform on its compliance with the Act during the preceding year.

Based on the total number of staff employed by my Department on the 31st December, 2008, 4.8 percent indicated that they had a disability as defined under the Disability Act, 2005. The Department also provided a placement under the Willing, Able and Mentoring Programme to a graduate with a disability for a period of six months beginning on the 4th November, 2008.