Seán Haughey (Dublin Bay North, Fianna Fail)
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127. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if 3% of places in the public service are being reserved for those with a disability; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8446/16]

Brendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour)
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In relation to the employment of people with disabilities in the Public Service, Part 5 of the Disability Act 2005 sets a 3% target for such employment and this is monitored on an annual basis by the National Disability Authority (NDA). 

In its latest published report for 2014, the NDA reported that the proportion of staff with disabilities in the public service exceeded the 3% target for the fourth successive year.  In the Civil Service, the area of the public service for which I have direct responsibility, 4.3% of staff employed in Government Departments were reported as having a disability.  In relation to other areas of the public service, each Minister is responsible for 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 the context of the implementation of the Comprehensive Employment Strategy for people with disabilities, it has been agreed to increase the public service employment targets on a phased basis from 3% to 6%. 

In addition, 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.