Fergus O'Dowd (Louth, Fine Gael)
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1755. To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources 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. [27133/17]

Denis Naughten (Roscommon-Galway, Independent)
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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 annually on the achievement of these obligations

My Department  is committed to supporting and promoting the employment of people with disabilities. In the National Disability Authority's (NDA) latest  published report for 2015, the NDA noted that people employed in my Department with a disability totalled 3.3% of total staffing, exceeding the 3% target. 

All advertised vacancies in my Department are open to people with disabilities  in accordance with the Disability and Employment Equality Acts.

The information requested in relation to the agencies under the aegis of my Department is an operational matter for each agency.  The Department will request the relevant bodies to reply directly to the Deputy with the information requested in respect of their organisations.