Frank Feighan (Roscommon-South Leitrim, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 175: To ask the Minister for Finance, further to Parliamentary Question No. 89 of 3 December 2009, the way a person with a disability ensures that their attention is drawn to vacancies and when they must apply in order that they are considered under the 3% target for employment in the public service for persons with disability. [6169/10]

Brian Lenihan Jnr (Dublin West, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

As stated in my reply to the Deputy on 3 December 2009, the position in relation to the opportunities for employment to the Public Service generally is limited by the recruitment and promotion moratorium which was announced on 27 March last year, but the moratorium does not apply to the "Willing, Able, Mentoring Programme" and the 3 per cent target for employment for persons with disabilities. Recruitment to positions in the Civil and Public Service is carried out by the Public Appointments Service, the central recruitment agency for the Civil and Public Service and conducted in strict compliance with the Codes of Practice set out by the Commission for Public Service Appointments. Codes include the "Code of Practice governing the External and Internal Appointments of Persons with Disabilities to Positions in the Irish Civil Service and Certain Public Bodies".

All posts are advertised on the Public Appointments Service website www.publicjobs.ie and in relevant national newspapers. Candidates interested in pursuing a career in the Civil and Public Service may register as a member of the Public Jobs website. They can apply for jobs online and register for updates on new Public Service opportunities. Once registered they can receive job alerts matching their requirements via email and/or SMS text alerts. Candidates with a disability can apply for any post for which they are eligible. When registering with the website, applicants can indicate if they have any special needs and every attempt is made to provide the accommodations that might be required during the assessment process. All vacancies specify in the advertisement the closing date for receipt of applications.

The Deputy may wish to note that the Public Appointments Service has an Access Officer who can provide or arrange for and co-ordinate the provision of assistance and guidance to persons with disabilities accessing its service. I can assure the Deputy that the Government gives a high priority to policy on the employment of people with disabilities. All reasonable measures to promote and support the employment of people with disabilities continue.

The Public Appointment Service, on behalf of the Civil Service, has held recruitment competitions confined to persons with disabilities. The most recent competition was at Executive Officer level advertised in March 2007. In an effort to attract as many applicants as possible for this recruitment competition the advertisement was sent to a number of voluntary organisations representing people with disabilities. It was also advertised on the Public Jobs website, in national newspapers and was issued to each Government Departments' Disability Liaison Officer.

Officials in my Department consult with organisations that provide sheltered and supported employment to persons with disabilities. As a practical example, all Government Departments and Offices in the Civil Service participated in the Irish Association of Supported Employment Annual Job Shadow Initiative 2009. This national project is designed to bring together people with disabilities and local employers in the spirit of collaboration to enable job seekers explore the world of work. The initiative gives people with disabilities the unique opportunity to shadow a workplace mentor as he/she goes through their working day. It is envisaged that through exposure to a work setting, job seekers throughout Ireland will learn more about job requirements and employers expectations.

In addition, a number of Government Departments and Offices in the Civil Service are involved in a work experience graduate programme for persons with disabilities, known as "Willing, Able, Mentoring" (WAM) for the past six years. This programme gives practical effect to Government and Civil Service policy on improving employment prospects for persons with disabilities. This programme is not subject to the moratorium.

As the Deputy is aware the 3 per cent target for employment of persons with disabilities in the Public Service remains in place, notwithstanding the recruitment and promotion moratorium. The recent 2008 report published by the National Disability Authority stated that all Government Departments in the Civil Service achieved or exceeded the 3 per cent employment target in compliance with Part 5 of the Disability Act 2005. In relation to other areas of the Public Sector, each Minister is responsible for compliance with and reporting on the target set in the Disability Act 2005 for the employment of persons with disabilities in public bodies under his or her aegis.