Pauline Tully (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

69. To ask the Minister for Finance the number and percentage of people with disabilities employed across his Department and bodies under the aegis of his Department in each of the years 2020 to 2023; the number and percentage of people with disabilities employed across his Department and bodies under the aegis of his Department in the corresponding timeframe that had full-time contracts; and the number and percentage of people with disabilities employed in his Department and bodies under the aegis of his Department in 2020, 2021, 2022 and 2023 that had part-time contracts, in tabular form. [30955/24]

Jack Chambers (Dublin West, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I wish to advise the Deputy that the number and percentage of staff in my Department who have declared a disability is set out in the table below.

My Department satisfied the 3% target of employing staff with disabilities and is aware of the increase in the targets to 6% to be achieved by 2025. My Department is committed to achieving this revised target. The Disability Census Form provided to all new entrants in my Department is voluntary and a self-declaration. An anonymous survey is carried out each year for staff to declare if they have a disability and the findings are then provided to the National Disability Authority (NDA). As the information on whether or not the roles held are full time or part time is not required for the Census, this information is not available.

The bodies under the aegis of my Department have provided the information below.

The Central Bank of Ireland is not included in the Department of Finance’s annual return to the NDA in respect of the employment of persons with disabilities in the public sector, and the corresponding employment target under Part 5 of the Disability Act. Therefore, the Bank does not complete the corresponding annual return to the NDA. However, the Bank is committed to mirroring this employment target as a means of reflecting the diverse society it serves and providing meaningful employment in an inclusive work environment.

The Bank’s disability representation data is based on a survey which is voluntary and anonymous to complete. All staff members are invited to complete the survey and anonymously identify as having a disability, neurodivergence or chronic medical condition, as well as provide feedback regarding their experience of same in the workplace. Its representation figure has increased since 2020 as the Bank purposefully commits to providing a workplace of fair opportunities and supports. Notably, in 2023 the Bank appointed a Disability Inclusion Partner, with an associated action plan to drive progress in the area of Disability and Neurodiversity representation and inclusion. Regarding staff who declare a disability, the Bank does not keep data on the number engaged as part time or full time:

The Central Bank assigns staff to the Investor Compensation Company DAC.

The Credit Review Office has a small number of staff, none of whom have declared a disability.

As staff surveys are anonymous, the Financial Services and Pensions Ombudsman does not collect data on the number of staff engaged on a full-time or part-time contract:

The Secretariat of the Irish Fiscal Advisory Council comprises six full-time staff, none of whom have declared a disability.

The National Treasury Management Agency (NTMA) assigns staff to the National Asset Management Agency (NAMA), Home Building Finance Ireland (HBFI) and the Strategic Banking Corporation of Ireland (SBCI). Data is aggregated in order to comply with data minimisation requirements under relevant data protection legislation and while disability data is vital to identify needs and promote inclusion, it is also deemed to be special category personal data and therefore safeguarded accordingly. The NTMA return data to the NDA on an annual basis in line with part five of the Disability Act 2005 which includes the definition of disability for the purpose of reporting:

The Office of the Comptroller and Auditor General does not have people with a disability employed under part-time contracts:

The Office of the Revenue Commissioners does not collect data on the number of staff engaged on a part-time contract:

Employees of the Tax Appeals Commission that have declared a disability are employed on a full-time basis. It should be noted that the data provided includes temporary staff: