Michael Creed (Cork North West, Fine Gael)
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My Department is committed to providing the supports necessary to enable staff with disabilities to participate fully in the workplace.  My Department upholds the principles of the Code of Practice for the Employment of People with a Disability in the Irish Civil Service and makes key staff aware of their obligations under the Code.

My Department’s Disability Liaison Officer (DLO) is available to assist and support staff with disabilities, and their line managers, by providing necessary information, appropriate contacts, guidance, suggestions and advice. The DLO liaises with internal and external service providers to ensure that workplace accommodation requests are met as appropriate. For instance, information technology tools such as screen-reader programmes for the visually impaired are kept up to date and made available to any staff that require them.

My Department participates in initiatives such as Job Shadow and the Willing, Able, Mentoring (WAM) programme each year. The number of participants in the Job Shadow initiative in my Department has increased in recent years. The WAM programme involves six month work placements for graduates with disabilities and this year my Department will increase the number of WAM placements being made available under the programme.