Catherine Murphy (Kildare North, Social Democrats)
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430. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the number of persons who have been employed under the positive opportunities scheme in each Department and State agency for the years 2008 to 2014 and to date in 2015; the proportion of total new hires such employees made up in each of these years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31819/15]

Catherine Murphy (Kildare North, Social Democrats)
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433. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform his policy plans for the positive opportunities scheme; the revised targets he proposed; his views that the economic crisis and resulting recruitment embargo had a more serious detrimental effect on the opportunities that would have otherwise been available to persons under the scheme than recruits to the civil service in general; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31852/15]

Brendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 430 and 433 together.

I understand that the Deputy's questions primarily relates to employment opportunities for disabled people in the civil and wider public service. 

As the Deputy will be aware, the civil and public service is an equal opportunities employer and all recruitment campaigns are conducted in strict compliance with various Codes of Practice put in place by the set out by the Commission for Public Service Appointments (CPSA). The CPSA 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.

In recent years employment opportunities in the public service generally have been limited by the moratorium on recruitment and promotion. 

Notwithstanding the moratorium, the 3% target for the employment of people with disabilities in the public service under the Disability Act 2005 continued in effect.

The National Disability Authority (NDA) reports on compliance with this target. In its latest published report in 2013, the NDA noted that in the Civil Service, the area of the public service for which I have direct responsibility, 4.4% of staff employed 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. In my Expenditure Statement for 2015, I announced that there will be a targeted programme of recruitment into the civil service to address service needs and a shortfall in key skills.  This programme commenced in late 2014, is continuing in 2015 and includes a number of open competitions providing employment opportunities for qualified candidates.

As far as policy developments in this area are concerned, the Comprehensive Employment Strategy for people with disabilities includes key actions as follows: commence a review of the Commission for Public Service Appointment's (CPSA) Code of Standards to ensure that they fully support the employment of people with disabilities in the public service; and that the establishment of special public service competitions for people with disabilities to meet identified shortfalls in public service employment targets, including where appropriate the provision of alternative recruitment channels for people with disabilities, with work in that regard to be taken forward by the Department of Public Expenditure in consultation with the Public Appointments Service (PAS).

My Department will be commencing its engagement with PAS and the CPSA shortly on advancing these actions.

In the context of the implementation of the Strategy, it has been agreed in principle to increase the public service employment targets on a phased basis from 3% to 6%.  This decision requires the making of formal statutory instruments by individual Ministers under Section 47 of the Disability Act 2015. 

Finally, a number of Departments and Offices in the Civil Service are participants in the Willing Able and Mentoring (WAM) Programme which is a graduate work experience programme aimed at persons with disabilities.  This programme was not subject to the moratorium.  Details of WAM can be found here: .