Gary Gannon (Dublin Central, Social Democrats)
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484. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the percentage or number of staff working with a disability within his Department and the agencies under his aegis in 2018, 2019 and 2020; and the actions being undertaken by his Department to actively recruit and retain persons with disabilities. [42145/20]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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Part V of the Disability Act 2005 requires that public bodies promote and support the employment of people with disabilities and ensure that 3% of staff employed by them are people with disabilities.  The requirement applies to the Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science and certain of its aegis bodies.

The Comprehensive Employment Strategy for People with Disabilities for 2015 – 2024, commits the Government to progressively increasing the statutory target for the employment of people with disabilities from 3% to a minimum of 6% in the public sector by 2024.

While the assistance of the Public Appointments Service is sought for the majority of recruitments in my Department, my Department is committed to supporting the employment of staff members with disabilities.

Given that my Department was established in July 2020, relevant statistics for this year are in the process of being complied and will be forwarded directly to the Deputy when available.