Fergus O'Dowd (Louth, Fine Gael)
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139. To ask the Taoiseach the current policy regarding the employment of persons with disabilities in his Department and in each State and semi-State body under the aegis of his Department; the disability quota of his 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; and if there has been an advertised competition in relation to the quota. [41604/21]

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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My Department and the National Economic and Social Development Office (NESDO) - the only body under my Department's aegis - actively support diversity and inclusion in the workplace including the employment of people with disabilities.

As at 31 December 2019, 4.3% of the staff of my Department and 6.3% of the staff of the National Economic and Social Development Office (NESDO) voluntarily and confidentially disclosed a disability. This exceeds the current minimum requirement of 3% for public sector organisations set down in the Disability Act, 2005.

Recruitment to my Department and NESDO is, in the main, undertaken through the Public Appointments Service which plays a central role in recruiting diverse talent to take up public service employment opportunities and who recently launched their Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Strategy 2021-2023 which aims to develop recruitment and selection processes to attract and welcome candidates from diverse backgrounds. For the past number of years, my Department has actively participated in AHEAD’s Willing, Able, Mentoring Programme, a graduate internship opportunity for persons with a disability.

My Department has a designated Disability Liaison Officer (DLO) 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 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.

The National Disability Inclusion Strategy provides for an increase in the Public Sector employment targets of persons with disabilities from 3% to 6% by 2024.

In order to achieve this target, my Department and NESDO will cooperate fully with any initiatives implemented by the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform and the Public Appointments Service in relation to implementing a pro-active approach to employing people with disabilities across the Public Service in line with the Disability Act 2005.