Fergus O'Dowd (Louth, Fine Gael)
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686. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the policy regarding the employment of persons with disabilities in his Department and in each State and semi-State body under the aegis of his Department; if there is a responsibility to employ persons with disabilities to a quota of 3% of its workforce; if this quota has now been exceeded; if there has been an advertised competition in relation to this quota; if not, the reason therefor; the dates and details of such competitions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27138/17]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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I wish to advise the Deputy that part 5 of the Disability Act 2005 sets out the legal obligations of public service bodies

- to promote and support the employment of people with disabilities

- to comply with any statutory Code of Practice

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

- to report every year on achievement of these obligations

The National Disability Authority (NDA) reports on compliance with this 3% target. In its latest published report for the calendar year 2015, the NDA noted that in this Department, 3.5% of staff had declared a disability. At the end of May 2017, this number has risen to 3.65% of the Department’s workforce.

As the Deputy will be aware, the Comprehensive Employment Strategy for People with Disabilities (CES) was launched by the Government on 2 October 2015.

The Government has already taken a number of key decisions as recommended in the Strategy:

- the public service employment target for people with disabilities will be increased on a phased basis as set out in the Strategy from 3% to 6%.

- special public service competitions and alternative recruitment channels for people with disabilities will be arranged.

These and other recommendations of the Strategy are being considered by a cross-party group chaired by Mr. Fergus Finlay.