Michael McCarthy (Cork South West, Labour)
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Question 191: To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the vacancies available in the public sector for persons with visual impairment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26284/11]

Brendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour)
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The position in relation to opportunities for employment in the Public Service generally is limited by the recruitment and promotion moratorium which was announced on the 27th March 2009. The moratorium applies, with limited exceptions, to the civil service, local authorities, non-commercial state bodies, the Garda Síochána, the Permanent Defence Forces and to certain bodies established by enactment and wholly or partly funded out of the Central Fund. The arrangements have been modulated in relation to the education and health sectors to reflect the particular needs in those sectors. In relation to the civil service, the area of the public service for which I have specific responsibility, a number of Departments and Offices are participants in the Willing Able and Mentoring Programme which is a graduate work experience programme aimed at persons with disabilities. This programme is not subject to the moratorium.

The Deputy may also wish to note that the 3 per cent target for the employment of people with disabilities in the Public Service remains in place, notwithstanding the moratorium. Reporting on compliance with this target under Part 5 of the Disability Act 2005, the National Disability Authority in their latest published report in 2009 noted that 4.2 per cent of staff employed in the civil service had disabilities. In relation to other areas of the Public Service, 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.

Finally, the Civil and Public Service is an equal opportunities employer and all recruitment campaigns are 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.