Gary Gannon (Dublin Central, Social Democrats)
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796. To ask the Minister for Health the percentage or number of staff working with a disability within his Department and the agencies under his aegis in 2018 to 2020, inclusive; and the actions being undertaken by his Department to actively recruit and retain persons with disabilities. [42146/20]

Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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My Department has not yet compiled the numbers of its staff with a disability for 2020 but the numbers for 2018 and 2019 are set out in the attached table. On the basis of the numbers for 2019, my Department had achieved the commitment set out in the Comprehensive Employment Strategy for People with Disabilities 2015-2024 to increase the percentage of its employees with a disability on an incremental basis from a minimum of 3% to a minimum of 6% by 2024.

The staff of the Department are recruited through the Public Appointments Service which is strongly committed to equality of opportunity in all its employment practices, including for people with disabilities, and which promotes diversity and inclusion throughout the Civil and Public Service.

The Department has a dedicated Disability Liaison Officer who promotes awareness of disability and the needs of people with disabilities amongst staff, who supports and assists staff with a disability and who reports annually to the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform on the employment of people with disabilities. The Department has also participated in the Civil Service WAM (Willing, Able, Mentoring) and Job Shadow initiatives by providing work placements to people with disabilities.  In addition, in early 2020 the Department provided transition year work experience placements to a group of young people with a disability.

The Department has asked the HSE and other health agencies to compile the information requested and to reply directly to the Deputy.