Written answers

Tuesday, 16 May 2023

Photo of Holly CairnsHolly Cairns (Cork South West, Social Democrats)
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208. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence how his Department and public bodies and agencies that operate under his remit meet their obligations for reasonable accommodation under the Employment Equality Acts 1998-2015. [23043/23]

Photo of Micheál MartinMicheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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The Employment Equality Acts oblige employers to make reasonable accommodation for people with disabilities. My Department is an equal opportunities employer and is fully committed to addressing the needs of all employees, including employees with disabilities.

To assist in fulfilling its obligations under the Act, the Department has assigned a Disability Liaison Officer (DLO). The DLO acts as a point of contact for employees within my Department with disabilities, their managers and Human Resources Branch. The DLO assists and supports employees, in confidence, and their line managers by providing necessary information, appropriate contacts, guidance and advice. My Department’s DLO is a member of the Civil Service Disability Liaison Network, which promotes and disseminates best practice in relation to the employment of people with disabilities.

My Department offers a range of flexible working opportunities to staff. Schemes such as the Blended Working scheme, 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.

My Department works with employees with a declared disability to ensure that suitable accommodations, where practicable, are in place. Examples include access to suitable ICT applications, distribution of work tasks and provision of training.

My Department has undertaken, where practicable, to promote and support the employment of people with disabilities. The 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.

The only State body currently under the aegis of my Department is the Army Pensions Board which is an independent statutory body, established under the Army Pensions Act 1927 and consisting of a chairman and two ordinary members and its secretary is provided from my Department’s staff.

Recruitment to my Department is open to all applicants, and reasonable accommodation is afforded to those with a declared disability.

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