Written answers
Wednesday, 27 January 2021
Department of Defence
Departmental Staff
Holly Cairns (Cork South West, Social Democrats)
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428. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the absolute and relative number of persons with disabilities employed by his Department in each of the years 1 January 2015 to 31 December 2020; if these persons are in full-time or part-time roles; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4522/21]
Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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In compliance with the Disability Act 2005, statistics on the number of staff working with a disability within my Department are compiled and submitted to the National Disability Authority annually. The figures are compiled retrospectively during the first quarter of each year in respect of the previous year. Therefore, the return for 2020 has not yet been made and is not included in the figures below.
As disability returns are anonymous, my Department cannot provide a breakdown on those working on a part or full-time basis. It should be noted that the Civil Service is a leader in the range of flexible working opportunities afforded to staff. Schemes such as the Shorter Working Year scheme and a variety of work-sharing patterns are available to support staff in the achievement of a good work life balance.
The following table outlines those who have self-declared a disability. However, it should be noted that there is no onus on a staff member to declare a disability.
| Total No. Employed | Total No. of Staff who self-declared a disability under the Disability Act 2005 | Percentage with Disability | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | Civil Servants | 371 | 16 | 4.3% |
| 2019 | Civilian Employees | 451 | 28 | 6.2% |
| 2018 | Civil Servants | 355 | 15 | 4.2% |
| 2018 | Civilian Employees | 431 | 29 | 6.7% |
| 2017 | Civil Servants | 351 | 20 | 5.7% |
| 2017 | Civilian Employees | 469 | 20 | 4.3% |
| 2016 | Civil Servants | 371 | 20 | 5.4% |
| 2016 | Civilian Employees | 487 | 21 | 4.3% |
| 2015 | Civil Servants | 354 | 11 | 3.1% |
| 2015 | Civilian Employees | 499 | 23 | 4.6% |
In compliance with Part 5 of the Disability Act 2005, my Department has undertaken, where practicable, to promote and support the employment of people with disabilities. My Department continues to operate in a non-discriminatory environment in accordance with the Equality Acts and aims to ensure that the principles of employment equality are implemented in recruitment, promotion, training and work experience.
Recruitment to my Department is open to all applicants, and reasonable accommodation is afforded to those with a declared disability.
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