Tom Fleming (Kerry South, Independent)
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56. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the target of his Department and subsidiary offices throughout the country regarding employment of persons in the special category with disabilities and if the target being achieved; the total number of employees in that category currently and the percentage of the total workforce in his Department that it represents; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24615/13]

Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour)
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Under the Disability Act 2005, Part 5, public service bodies are obliged:

to promote and support the employment of people with disabilities

to comply with the statutory Code of Practice

to meet a target of 3% of employees with disabilities and

to report every year on the achievement of these obligations

Maintenance of records relating to numbers of staff with disabilities depends on a system of self-declaration. At the end of 2012, my Department employed 51 officers with a declared disability, representing 3.51% of total staffing at Headquarters and abroad.

The Department has designated officers in its Human Resources Section to act as Disability Liaison Officer (DLO) and Access Officer. The Department’s induction pack, which is provided to all new entrants, includes contact and role details for the DLO and a copy of the Disability census form for completion. The Department’s DLO is also an active participant in the Civil Service DLO Network.

The Department also has a dedicated Intranet page on disability issues. This acts as a central source of information for Departmental staff on all issues relating to disability.

The Department provides assistive technology and equipment to a number of staff with disabilities. Accommodations are provided as necessary for staff with disabilities participating in training sessions, seminars and promotion competitions organised by the Department.