Gary Gannon (Dublin Central, Social Democrats)
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81. To ask the Taoiseach 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. [42152/20]

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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The percentage of staff working with a disability within my Department and the National Economic and Social Development Office (NESDO) in 2018 and 2019 is as follows:

Returns for 2020 under the Disability Act are due to be reported to the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform by 31 March 2021 and to the National Disability Authority (NDA) by 30 June 2021.

My Department, in line with the rest of the Civil Service, actively supports diversity and inclusion in the workplace and is committed to a policy of equal opportunity for all staff. Recruitment to my Department is, in the main, undertaken through the Public Appointments Service. For the last number of years my Department has actively participated in the Willing, Able, Mentoring Programme, a graduate internship opportunity for persons with a disability.

My Department has a designated Disability Liaison Officer with a specific brief to provide training, support and guidance to managers and staff for the provision of reasonable accommodations. New staff are made aware of the existence and the role of the DLO at induction. My Department follows the Code of Practice for the Employment of People with a Disability in the Irish Civil Service in relation to raising disability awareness, providing workplace supports, the provision of training and career progression.

To coincide with International Day of Persons with Disabilities Day, last week, my Department invited the National Disability Authority to deliver a presentation to staff to help to promote disability awareness.