Seán Sherlock (Cork East, Labour)
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156. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the engagement she has had on the policy of progressing disability services; and if she has contacted other Ministers regarding the policy. [16175/21]

Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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I have not yet had any engagements with other Ministers on the policy of progressing disability services in my capacity as Minister for Justice.  As the Deputy will be aware, my colleague in the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth, Minister of State Anne Rabbitte has policy responsibility for disability.

However, I would like to assure the Deputy that I am committed to ensuring that people with disabilities working both in my Department and the wider justice sector are appropriately equipped to carry out their duties. Considerable work is undertaken within my Department to retain staff with disabilities and to improve the quality of their experience within the work environment. Efforts across a range of areas such as role adjustments, redeployment in some cases, additional and specific training, physical work space adjustments and use of assistive technologies have enabled staff within my Department who have a disability to perform effectively in their role and make a meaningful contribution to the work of the organisation.

My Department follows the Civil Service Code of Practice on the employment of people with disabilities. My Department’s Disability Liaison Officer (DLO) is available to assist and support staff with disabilities, in confidence, and their line managers by providing information, guidance, and support, as well as assisting in the provision of reasonable accommodations. My Department will also roll out Disability and Autism Awareness training to all staff this year in line with the National Disability Inclusion Strategy 2017-2021.  

The Deputy may also wish to note that my Department takes part in the Willing Able Mentoring (WAM) programme every year. WAM is an initiative of the Association for Higher Education Access and Disability (AHEAD), which offers a six-month paid mentored work experience placement to graduates with disabilities. My Department also participates in the Job Shadow Day initiative, which brings people with disabilities and local employers together for one day in the workplace.

I am also committed to ensuring members of the public have access to the necessary services in order to ensure they can suitably and effectively interface with my Department.

In accordance with Section 26(2) of the Disability Act, my Department has an Access Officer who is responsible for providing, arranging or co-ordinating assistance to persons with disabilities who wish to access the services provided by the Department of Justice. The Access Officer also acts as a point of contact for persons with disabilities who wish to access such services.