Margaret Murphy O'Mahony (Cork South West, Fianna Fail)
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1942. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the proportion of employees in her Department or in organisations under its remit registered disabled. [1853/18]

Josepha Madigan (Dublin Rathdown, Fine Gael)
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I am informed that 3.15% of my Department's employees have a disability according to the definition provided in the Disability Act, 2005. This figure exceeds the current target of 3% set out in the legislation. The Act defines disability as:

“Disability in relation to a person, means a substantial restriction in the capability of the person to carry on a profession, business or occupation in the State or to participate in social or cultural life in the State by reason of an enduring physical, sensory, mental health or intellectual impairment.”

I am further informed that the aggregate proportion of employees who have a disability, as per the definition, in the State Agencies under my remit is 4.8%. The figure in each individual Agency varies, with not all reaching the 3% target. The National Disability Authority has, however, acknowledged the difficulty of organisations with low staffing levels to meet this target.

These figures were reported to the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform in March 2017 in fulfilment of the Department's obligations under Part 5 of the Disability Act, and are the latest figures available.