Written answers

Tuesday, 16 April 2019

Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade

Disability Act Employment Targets

Photo of Brendan  RyanBrendan Ryan (Dublin Fingal, Labour)
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119. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade 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. [17488/19]

Photo of Brendan  RyanBrendan Ryan (Dublin Fingal, Labour)
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120. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if his Department and the agencies under his aegis track the number 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 as outlined in the national disability inclusion strategy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17505/19]

Photo of Simon CoveneySimon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 119 and 120 together.

As of 31 December 2017, 3.5% of staff employed in the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade disclosed a disability within the definition as outlined in the Disability Act 2005. The percentage rate increased in 2018 and figures are expected to be available from June 2019.

The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade is unable to track the numbers of employees with an intellectual disability as it is not a requirement on the NDA Disability Status Form to "specify" what type of disability an employee has when disclosing a disability within the definition of the Disability Act 2005.

The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade is fully committed to equality of opportunity in all its employment practices in line with the National Disability Inclusion Strategy 2017-2021. The Department is a supporter of the Willing, Able and Mentoring (WAM) programme. The Department has supported 11 placements since placements commenced in 2006, and one successful 2018 WAM candidate is currently employed with us. The Department has offered two placements on the 2019 programme.

 The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade is also supporting the Job Shadow Initiative and will welcome a participant from WALK on "Job Shadow Day", 2019.  The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade is also supportive of the pilot Internship scheme for persons with a disability proposed by DPER and will offer a placement when the scheme is launched.

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