Fergus O'Dowd (Louth, Fine Gael)
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507. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the current policy regarding the employment of persons with disabilities in her Department and in each State and semi-State body under the aegis of her Department; the disability quota of her Department at present; if there is an active campaign to increase the disability workforce from the current target of 3% to a minimum of 6% by 2024; if this quota has now been exceeded; if so, the details of same; if there has been an advertised competition in relation to the quota; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [41590/21]

Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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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 Education 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.

In 2020, the reported percentage of employees with a disability under the definition of the Disability Act 2005 for the overall Department of Education was 3.58%.

While the assistance of the Public Appointments Service is sought for the majority of recruitments in my Department, my Department is committed to supporting staff members with disabilities by providing reasonable accommodation where required.