Brendan Ryan (Dublin Fingal, Labour)
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569. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government the number or percentage of employees in his Department and in the agencies under his aegis with intellectual disabilities; his plans to increase this number to promote and support the employment of persons with intellectual disabilities as outlined in the Disability Act 2005; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17490/19]

Brendan Ryan (Dublin Fingal, Labour)
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570. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government if his Department and the agencies under his aegis track the numbers of employees they have with an intellectual disability; his plans to do so in order to help set targets and increase workplace opportunities for those with intellectual disabilities such as those outlined in the national disability inclusion strategy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17507/19]

Eoghan Murphy (Dublin Bay South, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 569 and 570 together.

The 2005 Disability Act sets out the legal obligations of Public Body employers in relation to the employment of people with disabilities. Along with promoting and supporting people with disabilities, public bodies are also obliged to meet a 3% target of employees with disabilities. At the end of 2018, my Department’s rate was 5.6%. The target will increase to 4% in 2020; however, it is anticipated that the rate in my Department will remain above target over the coming years. There is no obligation to, nor does my Department, collate information specifically on staff with intellectual disabilities.

My Department has appointed a disability liaison officer, whose role is to provide advice and support to any staff who wish to disclose their disability. The disability liaison officer is also the first point of contact should staff require additional supports or workplace accommodations.

In addition, my Department participates in the Willing Able Mentoring Programme (WAM), a project-based work placement which aims to promote access to the labour market for graduates with disabilities. This programme is a collaboration between the Irish Civil Service and AHEAD (Association for Higher Education Access and Disability).

The details requested in relation to bodies under the aegis of my Department are a matter for the individual bodies concerned. Arrangements have been put in place by each Agency to facilitate the provision of information by State Bodies directly to members of the Oireachtas. The contact email addresses for each agency are set out in the following table.